Garry first appeared at Corroboree in 2014, when Jasmine started as an U6; She took U7s off but when her brother Lachie started as an U6, Jasmine decided to return for U8s. We all owe a debt to Fiona Hedgecoe who encouraged the family to come to Corroboree as the best Little Athletics Club, even though there were others closer to their home. Garry quickly got involved as an AGC and then joining the committee for the 2017-18 season, as Secretary and Equipment Officer, the latter role which he also filled for Little Athletics ACT. Garry stepped into the President’s role for the 2018-19 season, to build on the legacy of recent presidents, Andrew Sutton and Ingrid Takken. The five seasons since then has seen him lead the club to new levels.

His first task was to replace the white t-shirt with a Royal Blue quality shirt. Garry is extremely passionate and energetic, spending every bit of time he can afford (and sometimes can’t afford) on ensuring that the Centre is run as close to perfection as possible. Saturday mornings he is the first to arrive for setup and last to leave. Before this Garry spends hours planning the meets to ensure their smooth and safe running, eliminating bottlenecks so children (and parents/carers) have the maximum fun and least time standing around. During the 2020-2021 season, COVID made planning even more challenging, but critical to ensure Corroboree could run meets safely for both the physical and mental health of all its families. All this Garry managed, including preparation of a detailed COVID plan, despite being seriously ill and spending a week in hospital at the start of the season. Garry’s visits to the hospital never seem to stop the text messages, as committee members will attest. His communication with members, on all club and LAACT matters is detailed, timely and effective.

Membership has risen from year to year, with a high of 424 athletes for the 2022-23 season. Garry’s competitive streak has seen a targeted approach to LAACT carnivals rewarded with becoming both the Mick Morris ACT Relay Champions and Peter Boden U6-U8 Teams Challenge Champions, for three successive seasons (20-21, 21-22 & 22-23). Around the ACT Little Athletics community, Corroboree is recognised for its fun and welcoming environment. When Corroboree hosted the LAACT U13-15 Athlete Development Squad Camp to their Saturday morning meet a participant from another centre was heard to remark “You have way more fun than we do at our club!”

Garry ran Little Athletics ACT inaugural U6-U8s Team Challenge for the first 2 seasons, which was hosted by Corroboree, implementing a first state level athletic event exclusively for this cohort. The LAACT Annual Report concluded “The event was enjoyed by athlete and parents alike and we cannot wait to do it all again next season.” Under Garry, Corroboree was also uniquely recognised at ACT level as Little Athletics ACT Centre of the Year for consecutive years (2020-21 and 2021-22) “Corroboree … has continued, this year, to show others how it’s done” (LAACT Annual Report 2020-21).

Garry is constantly looking to try new ideas that improve the experience for athletes and parents alike and that ensure all members have a positive experience, promoting a culture of inclusion, fun and ‘Be your best’ at Corroboree. As a result, an atmosphere of mutual support and fun pervades amongst the athletes, be they the youngest or oldest, the slowest or fastest. This is exemplified by two of his initiatives: the Corroboree Gift and the Bacchus Best awards. The Corroboree Gift ‘Anyone can win!’ 100m handicapped event gives children of all abilities, a chance to win. It leads to winners from children who are often last in ordinary races, and we are rewarded with the biggest smiles of the season. The Bacchus Best awards go to those children who have gained the most ‘Personal Bests’ during the season, and again rewards the unsung athletes.

Our 50th Anniversary was a significant milestone for the club and Garry, with assistance of a sub-committee, ensured that it would be celebrated in style. Garry spent a lot of time going through all the documents filed in our containers and researching Corroboree’s history. He wrote invitations to special guests, who have been important in Corroboree’s history over the years. Garry came up with the idea to give life membership to Joyce Boyson, who founded the club in 1970 together with her husband Eric. Garry also started a Hall of Fame and inducted former Corroboree members and now Olympians Lauren Boden and Jayden Sawyer at the anniversary celebration. The celebration was a wonderful event, with many current members and special guests in attendance. Not forgetting that events need to be fun, there was also a great inflatable obstacle course, a big birthday cake and lunch. Throughout all this he kept a close eye on the budget, working out in detail what the club could afford for the 50th Anniversary celebration, reflecting his broader supervision that the club sustains financial viability.

Athletics is perhaps the most volunteer-intensive of all sports. committees, running canteens, coaching, helping out at events. Garry leads by example: a whole hearted commitment that generates enthusiasm and greater involvement from others. As a result, where some clubs run with three or four people, Corroboree is consistently able to harness the energies of many parents/carers to contribute to running all aspects of the Club and its meets. Garry also coaches the U6-8 group in weekly evening sessions and has assisted several schools to set up equipment and run their athletics carnival. In addition to his leadership of Corroboree Little Athletics during the winter, when others were having a well earned rest he coached junior rugby league and football teams.

Determined to see the U17 year as not the last opportunity to wear the Corroboree blue, 2022 saw Garry lead a full scale and finally successful effort to register Corroboree as a Senior athletics club, showing that athletics shouldn’t stop when you turn 18. The first season of Corroboree Athletics has shown that athletics is a sport that all ages and the whole family can have fun with. It has been a delight to see children officiating as starters and measurers, as well as parents and children competing together. Under Garry, Corroboree has really shown ‘Family fun and fitness’.

Garry’s contributions have been recognised through the LAACT Michael Spencer Volunteer of the Year Award for 2019-20 season and LAACT Capital Chemist Volunteer of the Month for January 2021. The citation from the Capital Chemist Volunteer of the Month sums up Garry. “PASSION, DRIVE AND COMMITMENT- three qualities that Garry Stevens has in spades! Garry LOVES Little Athletics and what it means to make a difference in children’s lives through athletics.”

To conclude, it’s worth highlighting Ingrid’s words in the nomination for the Michael Spencer award “Garry is someone all clubs need, but rarely have. He is passionate and enthusiastic, and nothing seems too much trouble for him.” We are honoured and delighted to award Garry Stevens Life Membership of Corroboree Athletics.