First Little Athletics Association of NSW Conference in 1972

16 July 2026

First Conference: Little Athletics Association of NSW

The inaugural Little Athletics Association of NSW (LAANSW) Conference was held in 1972 after the second season of competition. Titled a ‘seminar’ it was a two-day event on August 5 and 6. Held at the Oceanic Hotel at Coogee, the 80 Little Athletics Cente delegates from across NSW, heard from the Board about changes for the upcoming 1972/73 season which included cross-country and road walks.

The highly successful second season (1971/72) had seen LAANSW grow from 2800 to 6424 athletes and from eight pioneer centres to 18. In that second year we also saw the incredible progress of Hornsby, as they outgrew Randwick Botany to a total of 960 to 828 athletes.

Annual Conference History Facts

1972 (Coogee): appointment of a Secretary Manager for the association on a salary of $4000; registration fee is 50 cents; Association budget $12,000; 18 Centres; registrations 2800.

1975 (Port Macquarie): registration fee $1; Country Championships introduced; 11,485 registrations; 50 Centres

1982 (Port Stephens): registration fee $4; 26,691 registrations; 140 Centres; Budget $216,000; U13 competition introduced (prior to this the oldest age was U12); a proposal for U14 competition was defeated

1987 (Wagga): registration fee $8; 29,942 registrations; 179 Centres; Budget $460,000; U15 age introduced

1995 (Dubbo): the third largest ever number of registrations 40,480; 203 Centres; Income $1,017,480

1997 (Young): largest ever number of Centres 207; 39,195 registrations

2005 (Port Macquarie): the second largest ever number of registrations 41,088; 196 Centres

2013 (Taree): largest ever number of registrations 41,557; 192 Centres

2020: held virtually due to COVID; 187 Centres; 35,958 registrations

David Tarbotton for NSW Athletics

Image: LAANSW in 1972