3 October 1964
Trevor Billingham conducts first Little Athletics competition at Geelong.
September 1966
Bundoora Little Athletics Club formed and competes at Coburg Centre during 1966/67 season.
March 1967
Victorian Little Athletics Association (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 September 1967
DVLAC becomes 8th Centre affiliated with VLAA after Geelong, Bendigo, Corio, Sandringham, Coburg, Traralgon and Warrnambool.
First competition at Willinda Park is preceded by a march through Greensborough Shopping Centre.
Official opening of Centre conducted by Monty Vale, MLA for Greensborough.
Inaugural competition commenced with thirteen Clubs; St. Mary’s, Diamond Creek, Eltham, St. Martin’s, Macleod, Greenhills, Greensborough, Bundoora, Watsonia Heights, Montmorency, Watsonia, St. Francis and Briar Hill.
1967/68
1,339 registered athletes.
St. Mary’s win first Club Championship Trophy.
1968/69
1,322 registered athletes.
Under 13 competition introduced.
Zone Championships Introduced.
DVLAC achieves an equal 4th place in the Victorian State 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 is extended to accommodate the full 400 metre track.
Rubberised bitumen long jump run ups are installed.
A Sub-Committee is established to investigate options for synthetic track with Council.
1970/71
St Francis’ club 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 Martin’s club 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
Installation of 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 centre championships forces a third day of competition (Friday Twilight).
State Relay Championships held at VFL Park, Waverley.
1974/75
Kangaroo Ground club disbands. 8 Clubs compete.
Willinda Park track reopened.
Kelly Bourke (WH) selected in Victorian Interstate team. The 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 2½ hours late as no reserve date is possible.
1981/82
The Centre Constitution 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 $15,000 profit
1983/84
Rubberised Bitumen track resurfaced 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 resurfaced
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
Electronic 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
1999/2000
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 Millennium Babies
40th anniversary of formation of Bundoora LAC
40th Anniversary of first meeting celebrated at AGM including unveiling of honour boards
Montmorency club disbands
Yarrambat-Plenty club joins centre
2007/08
Inaugural 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
2017/18
The Centre celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its establishment.
2018/19
Competition is relocated from September 2018 to January 2019 to Meadowglen Stadium in Epping whilst track is resurfaced.
2019/20
The Centre has it’s first female president – Shana Simonovski.
Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) all competition and training ceased from March 13, 2020.
The following events were cancelled:
- Centre Track and Field Championships
- State Track and Field Championships
- All Centre, Region and State Cross Country competition events
The centre's Season Awards' Presentation and Annual General Meeting were held online.
The Pavilion was refurbished with grants from Federal and State Governments.
2020/21
Due to easing of Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, competition and training resumed on November 14, 2020. A number of COVIDSafe procedures were implemented to ensure the health and safety of athletes, officials and families.
The Region Track and Field Carnival was rescheduled in February due to a sudden Melbourne lock-down, causing the cancellation of the Region Relay Carnival.
The latter part of the Cross Country season, including region and state events was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Former centre president, Shana Simonovski elected to the board of LAVic.
2021/22
A shortened season is run from November 2021 to March 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Season included Centre Relay and Track and Field Championships, hosting of the Region Track and Field Carnival, State Combined Events and Track and Field Championships.
A full Cross Country competition was run in conjunction with Centres in our Region providing a greater variety of competition venues.
2022/23
A return to a full season after the removal of COVID-19 restrictions.
Competition for Under 17 athletes introduced.
Severe wet weather leading up to the official opening round on October 15 caused the Banyule Council to close the track and cancellation of the weekend's Opening Ceremony and competition.
July 2023
At the Annual General Meeting of LAVic, Shana Simonovski, former Centre President, is re-elected to the board of LAVic and subsequently appointed President.