Club/Team History

A look at the evolution of the Centre's structure since its formation on 12th November 1968.

If you have any information, please contact Dylan Cooper - president@waverleylac.com.au

Era 1: Original Club Structure (1968 - 1988)

The Centre structure was originally made up of several affiliated Clubs, most attached to the local schools in the Waverley area. Athletes paid a small one off registration fee that was paid upfront upon registration, with an additional 10 cent fee paid per athlete per attendance.

Clubs had their own Committees, made up of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Team Manager and Committee Members. Clubs used to marshal in groups around the hill closest to the South Football Oval.

The original Waverley Centre uniform, that was worn at meets outside the Centre, was a blue t-shirt with the number 34 imprinted in white.

Key Structural Changes:
  • 1972/73: Syndal South Club becomes the Syndal South/Bayview Club.
  • 1975/76: Syndal South/Bayview club becomes Notting Hill Club (Blue and White Club uniform).
  • 1977/78: St. Christophers Club becomes the first Club to fold.
  • 1980/81: Syndal North and Waverley North Clubs merge, becoming the Syndal/Waverley North Club.
  • 1983/84: Essex Heights Club folds and merges with the Mount Waverley Club.
  • 1986/87: Syndal Club folds and is assumed their athletes merge with the Syndal/Waverley North Club.
Original Clubs & Colors (1972/73)
  • Essex Heights: Royal Blue with Gold Hoops
  • Glen Heights: Brown
  • Glen Waverley: Orange
  • Holy Family: Purple
  • Mt. Waverley: Maroon
  • Panthers: Red
  • St. Christophers: Sky Blue
  • St. Leonards: Gold
  • Syndal: Navy Blue
  • Syndal North: Emerald Green
  • Syndal South/Bayview: Light Green
  • Waverley North: White with Red W.N
Club Presidents & Managers (Partial List)

This list is incomplete (work in progress).

Season Presidents/Managers
1968/69Frank Nugent*, Terry Humphris? - John Harrick - -
1969/70- John Harrick - -
1973/74- John Harrick - -
1974/75- Norm Stone - -
1987/88- John Benn, Greg Hoath, Bernard Mulholland, Gavin Faichney, Russell Weber, Peter McNair, - Peter Ryan, - Mark Baxter -

Era 2: Team Structure (1988 - 2008)

In 1988/89, the Club structure was abolished by the Centre Executive (passed by one vote). The Centre then comprised of 4 teams, based on the local areas, which athletes could choose:

  • Glen Waverley
  • Mt. Waverley
  • Panthers
  • Syndal/Notting Hill

In 1993, Centre President Doug Kerr restructured the teams again, changing names from area-based to animal/color themes, and introduced Southern Stars for U13-U15 age groups:

Old Team Name New Team Name Colour
Glen WaverleyTigersYellow
Notting Hill/SyndalJaguarsWhite
PanthersPanthersRed
Mt. WaverleyLeopardsLight Blue
Southern StarsRed/White/Black
Team Managers (1988 - 1993)
Season Glen Waverley Notting Hill/Syndal Panthers Mt. Waverley
1988/89
1989/90
1990/91Allan ClarkMark BaxterBob BandIgnatius Calderone
1991/92Allan ClarkMark BaxterBob BandIgnatius Calderone
1992/93Lesley KerrMark BaxterBob BandMarcus Bromley
Team Managers (1993 - 2007)
Season Tigers Jaguars Panthers Leopards Southern Stars
1993/94Gus McLennanMark BaxterRon DempseyIgnatius CalderoneNil
1994/95Gus McLennanRob JamesRon DempseyBill WhiteMark Baxter
1995/96Jeff LockeRob JamesRon DempseyLyn White/Bill White/Peter MayMark Baxter
1996/97Jeff LockeRob JamesRon DempseyJane May/Jenny StannardMark Baxter
1997/98Ian Hassett/Heather HassettRob JamesRon Dempsey/Jan DempseyJenny StannardMark Baxter
1998/99Ian Hassett/Heather HassettRob JamesLynda Crane/Steve CraneBruce LyonDianne Linskens
1999/00Ian Hassett/Heather HassettRob JamesLynda Crane/Steve CraneBruce LyonVacant
2000/01Heather HassettRob JamesSteve CraneBruce LyonPeter Sexton
2001/02Heather HassettJenny PlaystedSteve CraneBruce LyonEd Chinery
2002/03Mary Banks/Neil BanksJenny PlaystedSteve Crane/Lynda CraneJane CowanJohn Nielsen
2003/04Mary Banks/Neil BanksClare KeatingSteve CraneNicole LopesJohn Nielsen
2004/05Mary BanksClare Keating/Kate PerryMatt SturgessDarren Hollingworth/Michelle HollingworthMargaret Franzone/Matt Smith
2005/06Jenny DennettJosephine JonesMatt SturgessMichelle HollingworthMargaret Franzone
2006/07Debbie VenturaJosephine JonesFiona Sturgess*Judy HoganMargaret Franzone
Administration Managers (2007/08)
Season Name Name
2007/08Debbie VenturaJudy Hogan

Era 3: Modern Structure (2008 - Present)

The 2008/09 Committee abolished the Team structure, based on a paper presented by Lindsay Harrison, due to an uneven balance between the teams and the extra administrative workload involved.

Since then, the Centre has been run without any associated team structure, with all athletes participating in the Red, White and Black Waverley uniform.

Only a small number of Clubs associated with the Waverley Centre survived from 1968 until 1988. Panthers was the only original Club name that remained a Team name until Teams were abolished in 2008/09.