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Photos from the Knox City Council Australia Day Awards ceremony at Knox Civic Centre on 26th January 2010 and will remain on the website for one year.

All photos are taken according to the Knox LAC Photographic Policy which can be viewed from HERE!

With special thanks to our Knox LAC photographer Phil Matthews

Please click image to enlarge.

Its been said that " those who can, do...and those that can do more, volunteer" and that sentiment is echoed in Knox LACs very own Mike Kerr. Mike has been volunteering in a variety of ways for many years at Knox LAC and his volunteer service was recognised today by Knox City Council at the 2010 Australia Day Local Awards when he was announced as the Knox City "2010 Volunteer of the Year".

In front of 150 guests including local Federal and State MPs including James Merlino (State Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs), Knox City Mayor, Cr Joe Cossari, Knox City Councillors and Channel 10 weatherman Mike Larkin as guest speaker, Mike was presented with his award by Cr. Andrew Walter (Friberg Ward).

Mikes family were in attendance to celebrate with him.

On behalf of all families, athletes and all those associated with Knox Little Athletics and the Little Athletics family as a whole, congratulations Mike, a most deserved recipient of the award and a great example of those who volunteer to ensure Little Athletics continues to flourish and realises its ethos of " Family, Fitness and Fun".

The citation below was read out as part of recognising Mikes nomination:

2010 Australia Day Award

Volunteer of the Year

The Knox Little Athletics Centre ( Knox LAC), like many sporting clubs, is a non-profit organization and relies on volunteers and parent helpers to co-ordinate the activities of the Centre, run events and competitions and to continue to aspire to the aim of Little Athletics - “Fun, Family and Fitness”.

Over the last 40 years the Knox Little Athletics Centre has been supported by thousands of volunteers but one of those volunteers who epitomizes the selflessness, enthusiasm and commitment of a volunteer and continues to do so even though his children have outgrown Little Athletics is Mike Kerr.

Mike has been involved at the Knox Little Athletics Centre for well over 10 years with his 3 daughters all having competed at the Centre.  Like many parents he became involved as a parent helper and continued to volunteer and assist in many aspects of the centre and continues to do so.   His volunteer activities include:

• Past and current President of the Dorset Little Athletics Club, one of the clubs affiliated with the Knox LAC

• Member of the Knox LAC Executive

• Chairperson of the Knox LAC Competition Committee

• Cross Country & Track and Field coach

• Coach of a relay squad during the Relay season

• Official Race starter for Track and Field Events

• Race hare ( runs in front of athletes as a guide) and race slug ( runs behind athletes to ensure none are lost) during the cross country season

• Race hare and slug for Regional and State Cross Country championships

• Transports the cross country trailer to all Knox LAC cross country events, marks out and sets up the cross country race tracks, packs up upon completion and stores the trailer.

• Sets up Track & Field competitions including equipment, hurdles, tents and barriers

• Maintenance activities during the week including grass mowing, emptying bins and general cleanliness of the Knox Park complex.

Mike was awarded with Life Membership of Knox LAC in 2001.

There are no newspaper articles on Mike’s volunteer activities – he does not look for praise or recognition but continues to display enthusiasm and willingness to train and improve athletes as well as ensure events and activities associated with the Centre are setup and run effectively.  On most occasions this means getting to an event hours before it commences so that facilities are opened up and ready for use, equipment is set up and marked out, required lighting and power is available and working, and tents are erected ready for use.  

Mike balances these volunteer activities with both a work and family life.  Outside of his daily job he will often be down at the complex mowing lawns, doing repairs or being a contact point for Council workers or tradespersons as required as well as spending hours after work and weekends training and coaching athletes and liaising with other volunteers and Committee members as to aspects of the running of the Centre.

Mike has the ability to relate to all levels of people associated with the Centre – from Council and professional workers, other volunteers and parent helpers from the Centre and beyond and especially the athletes at the Centre.  The Centre has anecdotal evidence and many photographs of Mike in the centre of a group of athletes of all ages, dressed up in various outfits as part of Fun Days and Regional/State Championships and is probably the most recognized face of Knox Little Athletics Centre within the Victorian Little Athletics Community.

Mike epitomizes the ideals of what a volunteer is.  He has never been a parent who sits back and watches from the sidelines, he has been actively involved in the life of the Centre for many years and continues to do so even though his children no longer compete in Little Athletics.  

The Little Athletics ethos of “Fun, Family and Fitness” is embodied in his willingness to contribute to the Knox Little Athletics Centre.  

We have the unanimous and complete support of all associated with Knox LAC in nominating him for the Knox City Council 2010 Australia Day “Volunteer of the Year” Award.

City of Knox "2010 Australia Day Local Citizen Awards" Media Articles

Knox Journal 20th Jan 2010   Nominations		Ferntree Gully Belgrave Mail 2nd Feb 20101 Winners		Knox Leader 2nd Feb 2010   Winners		Knox Journal 3rd Feb 2010   Winners

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