World Champions headline ambassador visits for Coles Community Round
8 November 2023
Australia’s latest World Athletics Champion Nina Kennedy headlines a group of 13 past, current and emerging Australian track and field stars who will be making special appearances at Little Athletics centres over the next two weeks for Coles Community Round.
Nina Kennedy (WA, pole vault) will be joined by current dual Para-Athletics World Champion James Turner (ACT, T36 400m & 100m), reigning Diamond League champion Matthew Denny (Qld, discus) and Australian track and field royalties Sally Pearson OAM and Richard Colman AM in visits to grassroots clubs and centres across Australia to share training and nutrition tips with aspiring athletes.
With five Paralympic and Olympic gold medals and 15 World Championships between them, the Aussie stars are set to be hit among the next generation of track and field athletes.
The appearances are part of Little Athletics Australia’s Coles Community Round where kids and families participate in activities such as dress ups, banana relays and shopping basket races. Coles team members from stores across Australia will also be supporting their local Little Athletics centres with banana donations and visitations.
Nina Kennedy, who has recently re-signed as a Coles ambassador alongside Sally Pearson OAM, Matthew Denny, Kelsey-Lee Barber (Qld, javelin), Brandon Starc (NSW, high jump) and Jaryd Clifford (Vic T12/13 middle/long distance) said she was looking forward to sharing tips and insights with young athletes.
“I’m so excited to get out to grassroots Little Athletics centres over the next two weeks for Coles Community Round to see and meet Australia’s future athletes,” she said.
“Having started my career in Little Athletics, I know how important the Little Athletics program is for kids coming through the ranks. I also know how special it is for kids to see their idols and role models in real life so I hope I can inspire even just one athlete to perform a personal best or to take the next step in athletics.”
Coles Little Athletics Australia CEO Myles Forman said nearly 300 centres will be taking part in Coles Community Round this year.
“Coles Community Round has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced nationally in 2021, with nearly 300 centres already signed up for this year’s round,” he said.
“We’re delighted to be able support Coles Community Round by sending seven of our Little Athletics Australia ambassadors – James Turner, Richard Colman AM, Nana Owusu (Vic, sprints), Jordi McMillan (SA, sprints), Jackson Mellor (Tas, discus & hammer throw), Emelia Surch (Qld, long jump & hurdles) and Sophie White (WA, hurdles) to regional and metro centres over the next two weeks.”
“The Little Athletics Australia Ambassador program is all about inspiring and guiding young athletes across Australia and Coles Community Round provides a great opportunity for our ambassadors to do just that.”
In addition to supporting Little Athletics through Coles Community Round, Coles has donated more than 3.9 million bananas and distributed over $2.4 million in sports equipment grants to grassroots Little Athletics clubs and centres since 2017.
Coles Community Round will take place from Wednesday, 8 November to Tuesday, 21 November. The Coles and Little Athletics Australia ambassadors who will be making appearances at local centres during Coles Community Round are:
|
Little Athletics Centre (Suburb)
|
Athlete
|
Date of appearance
|
|
ACT
|
|
Ginninderra
|
Jaryd Clifford
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Corroboree
|
Jaryd Clifford
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Woden Thunder
|
Kelsey-Lee Barber
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Tuggeranong Tornadoes
|
Kelsey-Lee Barber
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Cooma
|
Jaryd Clifford
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Calwell
|
James Turner
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
New South Wales
|
|
Quirindi
|
Jordi McMillan
|
Thursday, 9 November
|
|
Tamworth
|
Jordi McMillan
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Gunnedah
|
Jordi McMillan
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Penrith Valley
|
Kelsey-Lee Barber
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Nepean
|
Kelsey-Lee Barber
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Mt Druitt
|
Brandon Starc
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Kings Langley
|
Brandon Starc
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
The Ponds
|
Brandon Starc
|
Thursday, 16 November
|
|
Girraween
|
Brandon Starc
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Holroyd
|
Brandon Starc
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Inner West (Concord)
|
Nina Kennedy
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Canterbury
|
Nina Kennedy
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Randwick Botany
|
Nina Kennedy
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
South Eastern (Moore Park)
|
Nina Kennedy & Brandon Starc
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Queensland
|
|
Balmoral
|
Kelsey-Lee Barber
|
Wednesday, 10 November
|
|
Ipswich
|
Matthew Denny
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Laidley
|
Matthew Denny
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Gold Coast
|
Emelia Surch
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Runaway Bay
|
Emelia Surch
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Aspley
|
Emelia Surch
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Wynnum Manly
|
Emelia Surch
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Warwick *
|
Matthew Denny
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Helensvale
|
Sally Pearson
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
South Australia
|
|
Tea Tree Gully
|
Matthew Denny
|
Sunday, 12 November
|
|
Reynella East*
|
Matthew Denny
|
Sunday, 12 November
|
|
Eastern Districts (Glenunga)
|
Matthew Denny
|
Sunday, 12 November
|
|
Campbelltown*
|
Nana Owusu
|
Sunday, 12 November
|
|
South Coast (Victor Harbor)
|
Jordi McMillan
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Woodville
|
Jordi McMillan
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Victoria
|
|
Doncaster
|
Sally Pearson
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Camberwell-Malvern
|
Sally Pearson
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Waverley (Glen Waverley)
|
Sally Pearson
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Brimbank (Deer Park)
|
Richard Colman
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Coburg
|
Richard Colman
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Keilor
|
Richard Colman
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Oakleigh
|
Nana Owusu
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Buninyong
|
Richard Colman
|
Friday, 17 November
|
|
Sherbrooke
|
Nana Owusu
|
Saturday, 18 November
|
|
Tasmania
|
|
Kingborough
|
Brandon Starc
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Queenborough
|
Brandon Starc
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
South Launceston
|
Jackson Mellor
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Launceston
|
Jackson Mellor
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
North Launceston
|
Jackson Mellor
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Western Australia
|
|
Baldivis
|
Nina Kennedy
|
Friday, 10 November
|
|
Swan Valley (Ellenbrook)
|
Sophie White
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
|
Hamersley
|
Sophie White
|
Saturday, 11 November
|
*Indicates locations where other local athletes/centres will be involved
NB. Athlete appearances are correct as of Wednesday, 8 November 2023, however all athlete visits listed are subject to change if affected by weather, COVID, illness or travel or other events.
For further information, please contact Coles Media Line (03) 9829 5250 or
media.relations@coles.com.au
