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Club History Early Years During the 1930'S and 40'S the local coal mining community introduced many new runners to the district. The township of Yallourn accommodated the State Electricity Commission workers involved in building and operating the Yallourn power station. Historical articles in local papers give accounts of competition between the sports minded local citizens who staged picnic foot races. By 1951 a group of running enthusiast had formed the Yallourn Athletic Club headed by President Garnet Loveless and Bill Tunaley as coach. SECV housing had spread to Newborough 6 klm away where Scottish immigrants Amy and Duncan McLellan had helped formed the Newborough Athletics Club. With the help of civic minded Yallourn citizens like Vic Gus they established a more formal local competition in the district 'The Latrobe Valley Athletic Association'. Footraces were conducted at the picturesque 'Yallourn Monash Reserve'. clubs competing included Yallourn, Newborough, Morwell, Sale, and a couple from Traralgon. In 1955 Vic Gus handed the Yallourn reigns over to Joe Carmody, while Amy McLellan was still looking after the Newborough club. During the Melbourne Olympics several Olympians travelled to the district and were received by the local members. Souvenirs including a javelin are still in the clubs possession. Yallourn member Dave Stephens was a 1956 Olympian. By the end of the 1956' Olympics, club running was more popular than ever in the Valley , with a Athletic Victoria Regional Centre to officiate competition and development of running in the district. Merging of Yallourn and Newborough Clubs But as the township of Yallourn was going to be swallowed by the open cut, And with the death of Duncan Mclellan one of Newborough's founding members, Yallourn and Newborough clubs consolidated their interests and officially merged in 1965. Under the Presidency and Coaching of Joe Carmody , and tireless organising of Mrs Mack and with support from some parents the Yallourn Newborough Athletic Club looked to a promising future. Maintaining the Red White and Blue of the original Yallourn singlet the 'Y' was changed to stripes and a new logo was designed by YN young ones. With the electrical bolt and the cooling towers aptly showing our heritage. In 1971 the club had a falling out with the newly elected Head of the AV Regional Centre but this didn't stop the clubs commitment to Track, Cross country and Road Championships, but it did start a rivalry between local club identities. In 1978 Vern Collings (a future secretary and Vice-President of YN club) joined the club and the following year became president of the Regional Centre and the rift simmered. During the 1980's YN club could boast some of the best track, cross country , and road runners in the state. By the 1990's we would boast some of the best athletes in the country. With the participation in 1996 Atlanta Olympics of Mark Ladbrook , Julian Paynter, and Tim Forsyth intrest in local athletics and in the Y/N club continued to grow. After the Sydney Olympics in 2000 there was a push to merge all four local clubs into one, only Traralgon Harriers and loyal YN members decided to remain an identity in the area. In 2002 the AV Regional center folded and a new era began. With continued support from local industry we look to the future with enthusiasm. |
