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2013-14 Season Handbook

The John Bennett Memorial Trophy

This award commemorates John Bennett, who was the founder and editor of the "Free Press" a local paper of the time which had many articles and results from the early days of Knox Little Athletics. John was one of those who was instrumental in bringing Little Athletics to Knox.

"This perpetual trophy, donated by the Bennett family awarded annually to the athlete with an outstanding performance in a single event during the season. The Trophy commemorates John Bennett's active support of Little Athletics" - taken from the KLAC Handbook

A tribute to John Bennett by Cr Wally Tew, the first City of Knox Mayor is as follows:-

"John Bennett was editor, owner and publisher of the "Free Press" in Belgrave for many years until his early death. In his younger days he was a good athlete. He was a prominent Councillor of the Shire of Ferntree Gully for some years and was especially interested in the schools. He was Advisory Council of Upwey High School and was particularly interested in athletics, an interest which showed his support of Little Athletics"

The idea for the most outstanding performance award was floated at the end of the first Track & Field season (1968/69). While at this time the actual trophy had not been created, the performance that sparked the criteria was that of Bruce Beaton in the U/11 800m Walk during the 1969 VLAA State Championships. Bruce won the first ever State Gold Medal and the only one for the Knox Centre in 1969 and his time broke the state record by 10 seconds. Bruce was presented with a trophy (shown below) and an athletic book signed by Olympian Walker Bob Gardiner.

Bruce Beaton 1969 State Gold Medal Winner		KLAC first AGM which mentions the criteria for an annual award for most outstanding performance		1969 Trophy from the Knox Centre for Most Outstanding performance
Please click on thumbnails to enlarge

The John Bennett  Memorial  Trophy article from 1970		First showing of the Trophy at the 1969/70 Knox Championships. To the left is Judy Blizzard, today, Chief Official with The Fields

The John Bennett Memorial Trophy winners

Please click on thumbnails to enlarge

1970	Stephen Davis	Bayswater	800m Walk
1971	Astra Vitols	St Josephs	Shot Put
1972	Astra Vitols	St Josephs	Shot Put
1973	Bill Dyer	St Josephs	Discus
1974	Jay Bullen	Fairpark	Discus
1975	David McDougall	St Josephs	800m Walk
1976	David Salkowski	Studfield	1500m Walk
1977	Andrew Perry	Bayswater	Discus
1978	Andrew Perry	Bayswater	Discus
1979	Andrew Perry	Bayswater	Discus
1980	Scott Fewson	Rangeview	800m
1981	Lisa O'Halloran	St Josephs	800m
1982	Stephen Roddis	Bayswater	Triple Jump
1983	Travis Martin	Boronia West	1500m Walk
1984	Nicole Dobrzynski	Studfield	Discus
1985	Stuart Daniel	Bayswater	70m
1986	Nicole Draffin	Rangeview	1500m
1987	Gary Creek	Eastfield	1500m Walk
1988	Gary Creek	Eastfield	1500m Walk
1989	Tamara Hudson	Wantirna	400m
1989	Adam Germaine	Scoresby Striders	400m
1990	Sarah Gathercole	Knoxfield	1500m Walk
1991	Charlene Compt	Wantirna	Hurdles
1992	Chris Beattie	Studfield	High Jump
1993	Hayden Lacey	Bayswater	High Jump
1994	Hayden Lacey	Bayswater	High Jump
1995	Brian Leonard	Scoresby Striders	1500m Walk
1996	Matthew Littlejohn	St Josephs	Hurdles
1997	David Crosbie	Eastfield/Studfield	Hurdles
1998	Lindel Hodgkinson	Bayswater	High Jump
1999	Hayley Malt	Boronia West	Sprints
2000	Hayley Malt	Boronia West	Sprints
2001	Kyle Rasti	Rowville	High Jump
2002	Mitchel Donald	Knoxfield	Hurdles
2003	Olivia Goder	Rowville	Jumps
2004	Brooke Stratton	Wantirna	Jumps
2005	Brooke Stratton	Wantirna	Jumps
2006	Callan Rauchfuss	Knoxfield	Multi Event
2007	Brooke Stratton	Wantirna	Jumps
2008	Charanja Thaverdran	Rowville Lakes	Sprints
2009	Sam Goldsack	Rangeview	Jumps
2010	Dakota Pyke	Knoxfield	Sprints

This page was last updated on 15/3/09