Western Athletics Club Legends
The Club Legends award was introduced in 2021 to recognise those who have shown a significant dedication to Western Athletics above and beyond Life Membership.
John Alchin
Beginnings
John started running as an U15 with Sunshine in 1976. He was coached by Barry Conlan and later with his training partner Clive Filling under the guidance of Henri Schubert, who also coached Pam Kilborn, Charlene Rendina and Judy Pollock.
John started out as a sprinter & hurdler before becoming an A-Grade middle-distance athlete (400, 800 & 1500m), and competed on the Thursday night for the Western Suburbs Combine and on the Saturday for Sunshine.
John helped with officiating at interclub. He ran cross country races and with Peter Burke helped form the tradition of the Winter pack runs.
Coaching
John has coached for over 35 years, without financial reward. He is loyal and makes everyone feel welcomed and valued. His inclusiveness and ability to think outside the square created opportunities for many athletes to participate in teams.
Club Spirit
John is a Life Member and Life Governor of Brimbank LAC and a Little Aths coach of the year. He is in the Brimbank Council Volunteer Hall of Fame. John has been our connection to athletes from the Brimbank - Sunshine area and we have benefitted immensely from this over the years.
Life members, Peter Burke, Stan Coxhall, Rod Crick and Kevin Falloon, repeatedly stated that John was always Club orientated and fostered great Club spirit. In their words he has always kept an eye on the welfare of the Club.
At Sunshine he started up the Club Newsletter and edited the Year Book. In recent years John would take photos throughout winter and summer seasons and create a slideshow featuring every athlete for our Club Presentation Nights. As a coach, John still helped out with Club Duties at Shield.
Club Leader
John was Vice-President of Sunshine from 1991 – 94 and President from 1994 - 1995. He is a Life member of Sunshine and consequently Western Athletics.
He was a key team member in the amalgamation of Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine Athletics Clubs into Western Athletics in 1995. His common sense, balance, loyalty and goodwill helped in the successful amalgamation.
John served on the Western Athletics Committee & various Sub-Committees for 24 years from 1995 until 2019. He provided insightful input into team selection for Winter and Summer.
John was Vice-President of Western Athletics from 2011-2019. He has spent 30 years on senior Committees. He has been actively involved in athletics at grass roots level for 44 years.
Peter Burke
Beginnings
In the late 1950's Peter competed for Essendon in middle and long distance, cross-country, triple jump, walking and just about all track events when the Club was short. He served a term as President and was Club Captain for summer and winter. He made many friends at Essendon and still maintains contact with them. His father was a Club coach at Essendon for many years.
In the early 1970's Peter saw the light and joined the all-male club at Werribee. He joined the Committee in 1972 and assisted in the changing Werribee from a country to a city club.
He held roles such as Selector, Coach, Secretary and President and was involved in the State's Athletics Summer Competition Committee.
Western Suburbs
In the 1980's he helped form the Western Suburbs Club, a combined "A" Grade Club, to prevent the talent drain from smaller clubs to the bigger clubs. Burkie was at times President and Team Manager of the Western Suburbs Club and Team.
Peter played an important lobbying role when the State's Men's and Women's governing bodies merged and again when the Werribee's Men's and Women's clubs merged.
The 1990's saw a major drop off in the participation in athletics. Peter joined forces with key people from Sunshine and Footscray and helped guide the amalgamation of the Werribee, Footscray and Sunshine Athletics Clubs into Western Athletics in 1995. Peter was made a Life Member of Western Athletics in 2005.
Club Leader
Burkie has held administrative roles and coaching roles for the past 50 years. His involvement in summer and winter seasons means that he is contributing all year.
Peter was on the Committee for 40 years from 1972 until 2012 and still serves on the AV Awards Committee and the AV Trust Fund.
Coaching
Burkie is a welcoming and inclusive Athletics Australia Level 4 coach who finds time and takes opportunities to promote interaction and training between the various squads.
He has coached Sprinters, Middle and Long Distance Runners, Steeple Chasers, Hurdlers, Walkers and Multi Event Athletes.
Peter has achieved some remarkable results including multiple Victorian, Australian, and Pacific Champions. He has coached an Olympian, Morgan Mitchell and continues to mentor her.
Attends all training and competitions (locally, interstate and overseas) without financial assistance.
Burkie has built lifelong relationships with and is held in the highest esteem by his peers, friends, athletes and parents for his fine judgement, expert guidance, generosity and positive impact on their lives.
He has been actively involved in athletics at grass roots level for 60 years.
