Keilor jumps funding hurdle

Keilor Little Athletics member. (Supplied, Scott Sidley)

Michaela Meade

Keilor Little Athletics Centre can jump a funding hurdle thanks to a $4400 grant from the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.

Keilor Little Athletics Centre president Wayne Mangion said the funding would help the centre to “survive and thrive” through the challenging times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

“Our club has been in the community for over 50 years and initiatives like the Coles grant will help us to provide community sport to local kids for another 50 years,” he said.

“The Coles grant will enable us to buy new marquees so that we can make the little athletics experience more enjoyable for our athletes and volunteers who spend hours out in the sun each week.”

Mr Mangion said the centre has had more interest on the back of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Coles Little Athletics Australia president Andrew Pryor said the grants would help develop the next generation of Olympic athletes.

“Around 75 per cent of the Australian track and field team who competed in the Tokyo Olympics and a further 23 percent of para-athletes in the Paralympics, had their start in Little Athletics – that’s why support like this from Coles is so important,” he said.

Keilor Little Athletics Centre registrations are now open.