Waverley Little Athletics Centre Inc.

Damien Johnson is a Key Official, Distinguished Service Award recipient and Past Athlete of the Waverley Little Athletics Centre Inc. He has been involved at the Centre for 10 years and is one of our longest current serving volunteers. Damien has no children involved at the Centre. His involvement commenced in 2011/12 when his younger sister joined the Centre. 

The Johnson family have rarely missed any competition weeks since joining the Centre and Damien has volunteered every week since 2011. For the first 6 years of his involvement, Damien volunteered as an Assistant Age Group Leader. This was primarily as guardian of his younger sister who needed some extra assistance and guidance, however Damien filled in any role that was required. From 2017, Damien stepped up and volunteered as the U12 Age Group Leader and he is currently one of the Southern Stars Age Group Leaders.  

As an Assistant/Age Group Leader, Damien has been responsible for; looking after all athletes within his group, ensuring they run through the program smoothly, assisting with the ON TRACK program for U6-U8's, running Javelin (U11-SS), assisting with and running the various field events, which includes looking after the athletes, recording of results, coaching the athletes to ensure they know how to the events, spiking/raking the jump pits, measuring at jumps and throws; timekeeping the long-distance events and most importantly, ensuring all athletes are safe and have fun. In addition to assisting/managing each different Age Group, filling in various duty roles and assisting with his younger sister, Damien has also encouraged and assisted all athletes to strive better, one athlete in particular was a boy named Owen. Owen was an athlete with special needs and Damien would often run alongside him with a few other athletes in the 100m, 200m, 400m, long distance and walk events, encouraging Owen to keep going right through the finish line.  

Damien is often one of the first to arrive on a Saturday, always assisted with the setting up and packing up of equipment, participated in our Relaython event and various fundraisers, taken part in our annual Christmas Gift races, has attended all WLAC Presentation Days/Nights and has generally well supported our Centre. Toward the end of the 2020/21 season, Damien started learning the recording tent assistant role when required.  

Damien is a great young man with a very friendly nature, he has always been willing to help and support the Centre and he always goes out of his way to say hello to everyone.

In 2020/21, Damien was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the Waverley Little Athletics Centre Inc., in recognition of achieving 10 years outstanding general service to the Centre.