3 October 1964
Trevor Billingham conducts first Little Athletics competition at Geelong
Sept 1966
Bundoora Little Athletics Club formed and competes at Coburg Centre during 1966/67 season
March 1967
VLAA formed
10 May 1967
Inaugural meeting of DVLAC held at All Saints Anglican Church, Greensborough attended by over 200 people including Olympians Ron Clarke, Pam Kilborn & Jean Roberts
24 May 1967
Interim committee meeting held appointing executive committee
30 Sept 1967
DVLAC becomes 8th Centre affiliated with VLAA after Geelong, Bendigo, Corio, Sandringham, Coburg, Traralgon and Warrnambool
First competition at Willinda Park preceded by march through Greensborough Shopping Centre
Official opening of Centre conducted by Monty Vale MLA for Greensborough Thirteen Clubs; St Mary’s, Diamond Creek, Eltham, St Martin’s, Macleod, Greenhills, Greensborourgh, Bundoora, Watsonia Heights, Montmorency, Watsonia, St Francis and Briar Hill compete in inaugural competition
1967/68
1339 registered athletes
St Mary’s win first Team Championship Trophy
1968/69
1322 registered athletes
Under 13 competition held
Zone Championships Introduced
DVLAC equal 4th in Victorian Championships out of 39 Centres Greenhills merges with Greensborough
1969/70
Greensborough and Briar Hill amalgamate to form Greenbriar club 11 Clubs compete
Willinda Park Oval extended to accommodate full 400 metre track Rubberised bitumen long jump run ups installed
Sub Committee established to investigate options for synthetic track with Council
1970/71
St Francis disbands
10 Clubs compete
Under 13 competition dropped
Grading events introduced
Sub committee established to investigate rubberised bitumen track
1971/72
Macleod club disbands
Kangaroo Ground club joins centre 10 clubs compete
1972/73
St Martins moves to Heidelberg Centre
9 Clubs compete
Centre gave consideration to withdrawing from VLAA due to proposed increase in registration fees
New scoring system introduced
Graded events held in Championships for first time
Watsonia North club proposed but does not compete
1973/74
Rubber Bitumen track at Willinda Park commenced in November 1973 Competition held at A K Lines Reserve in Watsonia
Under 7 age group introduced
Under 13 age group re introduced
Storm during championships forces Day 3 (Friday Twilight) State Relay Championships held at VFL Park, Waverley
1974/75
Kangaroo Ground club disbands 8 Clubs compete
Willinda Park track re-opened
Kelly Bourke (WH) selected in Victorian Interstate team first girl from centre to be selected
1975/76
Pavillion and new storage room completed (now part of function room) Sandra Boik wins Australian Little Athletics Cross Country Championship
1976/77
Building of bitumen high jump area
1977/78
Discussions commence with Greensborough (later Diamond Valley) Soccer
Club in relation to pavilion extensions
1978/79
Jim Mason selected as Victorian Team Manager to Australian Team Championships held in Perth.
1979/80
Rosanna transfers from Heidelberg Centre to become 9th club
Centre Best Performances set during season recognised for first time (previously only performances in championships recognised as records) Relay Championships introduced and held as a twilight competition in February
1980/81
Heavy rain almost washes out our Centre Championships. Program proceeds 2 1â„2 hours late as no reserve date is possible.
1981/82
Constitution of centre is revised. Surfacing of parking areas and turning circles undertaken.
1982/83
Under 14 and 15 competition introduced
Award for Championship team at Centre Championships introduced Car Raffle conducted which makes $15000 profit
1983/84
Rubberised Bitumen track re-surfaced for first time
1984/85
WPJAMA (Willinda Park Junior Athletic Management Association) formed 1985/86 Function room / canteen completed
1986/87
Fencing of jump pit run ups and roofing over BBQ completed
1987/88
Peter Mason selected as Victorian Team Manager to Australian Team Championships held in Sydney.
Centre becomes involved in Bingo consortium at Summerhill Hotel, Reservoir to raise money.
1988/89
Mark Barnett appointed Chairman of VLAA
1989/90
Computer first used for recording and grading results
1991/92
Track re-surfaced
1992/93
Under 6 Competition introduced.
25th Anniversary Championships held
1994/95
Region Multi Event Championship introduced
1995/96
Banyule Council commissions Jeavons Report into athletic facilities within Council – Willinda Park established as premier athletic facility within Banyule Council
Myer Greensborough store makes significant donation to centre for construction of Timing Gates
1996/97
Timing Gates used for first time
1997/98
Introduction of Javelin as an event at Diamond Valley Starting blocks first used at Willinda Park
Annual Planning forum established
Athletes Council developed
Saturday afternoon competitions trialed
Construction commences on extension of pavilion
30th Anniversary Dinner and Championships held
Our longest serving Secretary Bernadette Barnett passes away
1999/00
Construction of new synthetic track commences
Competition held at Meadowglen International Athletic Stadium during reconstruction
Centre Championships held at Willinda Park on new track
2000/01
On track program introduced for Under 6 athletes Under 11 and 12 age groups increased to 5 events
New lights constructed
Sydney Olympic Games contribute to 40% increase in registrations, a 12 year high of 831 athletes
2001/02
On track introduced for Under 7 athletes
Tom Boik retires as Equipment Manager after 25 years in role
2002/03
Our longest serving President Jim Mason passes away in March 2003 New Timing Gates purchased
2003/04
Construction of Throwing cages
Willinda Park becomes an exclusive athletic facility with Diamond Valley United Soccer Club relocating to Partingtons Flat
2004/05
Most successful State Championships in centres history 18 Gold Medals in Track & Field, 10 in Relays and 2 in Multi events
Introduction of Ron Budd safety hurdles
Centre secures grant from Vic Health for Portable Shade Cover
2005/06
New larger High Jump bags purchased for older age groups
Proposal to form Plenty Yarrambat club approved by Centre Delegates
2006/07
Registrations at a 6 year high as a result of the Commonwealth Games and Millenium Babies
40th anniversary of formation of Bundoora LAC
40th Anniversary of first meeting celebrated at AGM including unveiling of honour boards
Montmorency disbands
Yarrambat-Plenty club joins centre
2007-08
Inaugral Open Day Championships held on September 30 to celebrate 40th Anniversary 384 athletes from 40 centres compete
40th Anniversary celebration held on 6th October
Registrations exceed 700 and we once again become the biggest centre in the state
2011/12
Diamond Valley finish first on the Medal Table at State Track and Field Championships
2011/12
Diamond Valley finish first (again!) on the Medal Table at State Track and Field Championships