ROSEWOOD Little Athletics club official Kyrlie Thomson is one of the most positive people when it comes to helping young people.
However, the club president and registrar concedes the 2023-24 season has been extremely challenging for her club because of issues out of their control.
The main issue is competitors being unable to train at their usual Rosewood State High School venue.
“We’ve actually been at Ipswich Little Athletics on a Saturday morning due to some unforeseen construction issues at the high school,” Kyrlie said.
“It was not disclosed to us when we started the season or we didn’t know the impact of that construction so it caused a lot of headaches.”
Kyrlie said Rosewood club athletes had to relocate to Limestone Park in Ipswich, resulting in some of the 80 registered participants being unable to train or compete.
Recent wet weather also hampered events with only eight of 17 planned meetings staged.
The club is hoping to schedule some more events at the end of the season to help athletes preparing for next month’s state titles and to boost competition numbers.
The dreaded heat has provided more challenges. Athletes have arrived with their cooling towels and Rosewood officials offered ice water buckets and bananas to help ease the conditions.
The heat contributed to some parents not wanting to bring their kids to Limestone Park.
“It’s a shame because we started off so well,” Kyrlie said. She is serving her second term as president and third as registrar.
“Tiny Tots has grown significantly but that number has probably halved again because the parents don’t want to travel with their little ones at that hour of the morning.”
Kyrlie thanked Ipswich Little Athletics Centre officials like Melissa Smith, Andrew Hanlon and Bobbi Schodde for providing valuable assistance for Rosewood athletes to compete at Bill Paterson Oval.
“They [Ipswich Little Athletics] have been really helpful on a Saturday morning coming down, unlocking [facilities] for us and helping us unpack and pack up,’’ she said.
“They’ve been great.”
Ipswich Little Athletics Centre manager Smith said her committee were pleased to be of assistance.
“We are just happy to be able to help out, especially being a smaller centre in our region,” Smith said. “Little A’s are one big family.”
Kyrlie hoped to resolve the Rosewood State High access problem well before the next athletics season.
On a positive note, club athletes have been impressing at competitions this season.
“We’ve had some great performances,” Kyrlie said.
A number of Rosewood competitors qualified for state championships.
They include Jack Berry, Max Jenson, Cameron Thomson, Derek Jean Tailalo Faanoi, Jackson Carlyle, Mia Carlyle and Thomas Berry.
Two major events to complete the season are the Combined Event Championships in early March and the state championships later that month.
While the club won’t have huge representation at those competitions, Kyrlie was keen to finish the season on a high.
The club president was hoping to organize additional competition with the Ipswich Little Athletics Centre to compensate for some of this season’s challenges.
She wants to ensure Rosewood members are back at their home base sooner than later.
“It’s ongoing development and getting the club a few more athletes, which we’ve done … pretty much just surviving this season to be honest,” she said.
“It’s been an uphill battle.”
Rosewood Little Athletics was formed in 1986 by a small group of parents who saw the need in the community.
The first competition was staged in 1987.
Joining Kyrlie on the current committee is secretary Alanna Williams, treasurer/canteen, uniform and trophy coordinator Jo Patterson and development coach/recording officer Samantha Berry.
Other committee members are Louise McNamara, Michelle Wendt, Donna Fritz, Lauren and Chris Brown, Troy Patterson and Abbey Bird.
