Waverley Little Athletics Centre Inc.

Merle was a stalwart of Little Athletics. Her journey began at the Springvale Little Athletics Centre in the 1970’s where she remained an active volunteer into the mid 2010’s. She was awarded Life Membership of the two clubs she was part of that made up Springvale LAC, was a Springvale LAC Committee Member for 30+ years and was awarded Life Membership in 1983/84. Her involvement at Springvale went above and beyond that of any other volunteer I have ever met. She spent most of her life living and breathing Little Athletics at Springvale, serving on the Committee, running discus, managing the canteen, organising and running school bookings and even cleaning the toilets and bathrooms.

Merle was a member of the SMR Committee and was a Key Official from the 1980’s through to the early 2010’s. Her involvement included SMR Organising Secretary, Acting Secretary, Secretary, Education Coordinator and Assistant Education Coordinator. She was probably best known for her involvement in organising the SMR carnivals, Communications Manager or Discus Manager. She was also a member of the LAVic Membership/Public Relations Committees, a member of the Merchandise team, a Key Official at State Championships and various other LAVic events such as they Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and much more. For her exemplary services to Little Athletics she was awarded Life Governor in 2001/02.

Merle and I (Dylan) became friends through our association at SMR. When I joined the SMR team as a Key Official and later as an SMR Committee Member, Merle offered to pick me up and drive me to and from various meetings or competition events as I did not drive. Merle also came from Springvale LAC which is the Centre my grandparents were associated with from 1986/78. We had an instant connection. We became close friends, practically family, I used to refer to Merle as my “second Nanna”. Our association grew closer when I started volunteering at Springvale on a Friday night for a couple of years as a favour to Merle and a few others there and Merle returned that favour by assisting me personally during my first term as President at Waverley. She would come down and help run our relaython event and was Discus Manager at our Open Days.

Merle McBean passed away late on Tuesday evening, 6th April 2021.