Illawarra Blue Stars

Our club began life in 1953 as the Wollongong Blue Stars Womens Athletics Club and initially catered for female athletes only. After a few years, a change in direction saw male athletes granted membership and a change of name was required. The incorporation of the area name, Illawarra, was chosen to cater for the number of members drawn from outside of Wollongong.

Our home track has previously been situated on the oval at Wollongong Showground (now WIN Stadium) and at Parrish Park in Figtree but we now have a permanent home at the Illawarra Regional Athletics Centre, Beaton Park. Our track has an international standard synthetic surface and is one of the best regional facilities of it's type in the country. Our membership varies from year to year but traditionally hovers around the 150 mark, with athletes in all age divisions from Under 8 through to Masters Men and Women.

Blue Stars is one of the most successful Counrty clubs in NSW and boasts many Australian Representatives amongst it's current and former membership. The list includes two Olympic Games medalists, Robyn Woodhouse and Louise Currey along with fellow Olympian, Andrew Currey. The club also boasts several Commonwealth Games and World Championships representatives including Woodhouse, Currey & Currey, Paul Simensen, Adrian Hatcher, Sophia Begg and Troy Sundstrom. In recent years the club has also been well represented at World Masters level with Gianna Mogentale, Mary Thomas and Ranell Hobson all multiple medal winners. Mogentale and Hobson are current World Record holders in the W35+ 4x100m Relay. The club also boasts two Winter Olympians in Martin Harland and Jason Gobbi who were members of the Australian Bobsled Team!!

As the oldest athletics club on the South Coast, IBS has built a fine reputation with not only people and organisations within the athletics community, but with other outside organisations that recognise the services that the club offers. The club caters for all ages and walks of life, from Under 8 through to Masters as well as AWD (Athletes with a Disability). Club meets are held each Sunday during the summer season, giving people the opportunity to try a variety of events. A reduced winter competition is also conducted on the fourth Sunday of the month between May & August.

Club competition is conducted in a relaxed and friendly manner, giving families the opportunity to all compete together at the same time, in the same sport and at the same venue. Very few sports can offer this.

Coaching is available and provided by a number of well qualified and registered coaches in all disciplines of Track & Field.

Registration information can be obtained from the Registrar, Sue Sundstrom. Our fees are structured in a way the encourages whole families to join and take part in club activities. Club fees are required to:

      a) offfset the affiliation fee payable to ANSW per athlete
      b) assist with administration costs
      c) purchase new equipment
      d) offset and assist cost of Junior Development promotion
      e) purchase annual awards and trophies
      f) offset and assist with other miscillaneous costs

Registration allows members to:

      a) be covered by insurance while participating
      b) participate in club events
      c) participate in any ANSW or AA sanctioned meet

History

Board Members

Membership

President:
Sue Sundstrom

Sue is a Qualified Technical
Official and Coach. Sue's
duties also iclude Registrar,
Uniforms & Race Walking
Co-ordinator

Vice President:
Rick Oswald

Rick is a Qualified Technical
Official and Masters athlete.
Rick is also responsible for
Club's Implements &
Equipment

Secretary:
Valmai Loomes

Val is a Qualified Coach and
Administrator. Val's duties
also iclude Public Relations,
Coaching Co-ordinator &
Competition Co-ordinator

Treasurer:
Bruce Steele

Bruce is a Masters athlete

Board Member:
Gianna Mogentale

Gianna is a World Masters
Sprint Champion, NSW,
Australian & World Record
Holder. Gianna is Assistant
Secretary to the Club.

Board Member:
Jodie Sundstrom

Jodie is a Qualified
Technical Official & NSW
Representative athlete.
Jodie is responsible for
Fund Raising activities

Board Member:
Ann Grimm

Ann iis a Qualified Technical
Official and is also the
Technical Officials
Co-Ordinator

Board Member:
Donna Hiscox

Donna is a Qualified Coach
& Masters athlete.
Donna is the Athlete's
Representative on the
Board

Board Member:
Annette Mead

Annette is a Masters athlete.
Annette is responsible for
organisation of Social
Activities

Click here
for Description Positions
on all Board Members