Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday, 11 October I attended the Kingsway Little Athletics Centre for the opening of their season. I have the highest regard for the concept of Little Athletics. We in Western Australia know that Kylie Wheeler of Girrawheen, that great Olympic heptathlete, started her athletic career in Little Athletics in our local area. While there I spoke with Brendon Palmer, the president of the Landsdale Little Athletics club, and his wife, Jennifer. The other senior officials are Paul Del Prete, Imraan Alexander and Samantha Trewin. While I thank them for their committed and long-term volunteering to the young athletes in the club, I also pay tribute to the many other volunteers who help run the training and competition days at Landsdale. From the well-presented uniforms and conduct, you can see that the Landsdale club is a well-run club and a credit to the parents, volunteers and athletes.

One of those athletes is Terrell McKenzie, or TJ, who represented Western Australia at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in April. Terrell won a bronze medal in the 80 metres hurdles and came eighth in the shot-put and 10th in the discus. He also won the Kingsway Centre Championships in the under-13s 100 metres, 80 metres hurdles, long jump, shot-put and javelin.

I also want to mention two of the other up-and-coming Landsdale and I think future WA state athletes. Carly Trewin is now an under-12 who has been competing for seven years. At the state Little Athletics championships in March she won four silver medals for the hurdles and throwing events. I am also informed that Shakeel Alexander, now also an under-12, won three gold and two silver medals at those state championships. They are great talents for the future of Landsdale Little Athletics club and Western Australia.