1980-81

The Club's 21st year saw the first woman Secretary, Mrs Annette Hodge, elected.

We plunged into another great year in which we become the biggest country Club in New South Wales. A record King of the Mountain run by Rob McDonald – 1 hour 51 minutes 12 seconds for 20 very tough miles! Another great Circular 7 won by a regular visitor and friend of the Club – Wayne Brennan.

Hosts to the State Road Relay Titles for the fifth time in the Club's history. Winter season attracted over 100 runners on eight separate weeks for cross country competition, 69 being the lowest attendance all season. Rod Gibb manages the State team to the National Cross Country Titles. The Naval College wins back the McCaffrey Challenge after six years in the wilderness. Sandra Ellis wins medals at the 'Transplant' Olympics in the USA.

A big track and field season got under was with a huge pointscore competition. The 'fall off' syndrome again with marked declines in away representation.
Alan Ozolins was National Schools 400 and 800 Champion again and his record at State and National level made us all very proud of him.
The Club's officials took a stop to ease the strain of work as the 21st year of the Club drew to a close. They held back to start of cross country season for a month. For years it has been fulltime athletics year round.

Two National champions!

1981-82

Rod Gibb handed over the reins to new Club President, Steve Shaw, as the Cross Country season again attracted big numbers; over 100 for the first time in the Club's history.

The Naval College retained the McCaffrey Shield, the Circular 7 fun run was won in record time of 34.51 by Wayne Brennan. Track and Field numbers were up as well, though official numbers were down. Alan Ozolins continued to shine at State level in 400 and 800 while Alfred Trindall and Robert Sachett 'assisted' Alan in various relays at State and intra State matches. The Club's 21st birthday present from Shoalhaven City Council – a gear shed – was much appreciated by the equipment handlers.

McCaffery Shield competitors. Alaways a closely contested battle in the eighties.

1983-84

Cross Country got under way in what turned out to be a wet season – real Cross Country weather. It was noted that more Mums and Dads were starting to run with their children thus swelling the numbers. Our athletes represented in South Coast teams for State Winter Championships.
Rod Gibb continued to manage State teams to National Titles and assist as 'higher levels' as a State Selector. The Circular 7 was again successful with the Club phasing out of organisation in favour of the Apex Club of Nowra.

The McCaffrey Shield was retained as the summer season commenced with seniors being prominent again. Rain interrupted several nights of the summer pointscore but performances were of high standard and this followed through to Country Championships where 72 medals were won by a big Nowra contingent.
Alan Ozolins, now in senior level, performed well at State and National Championships. Steve Shaw was appointed to team managerial duties for State teams to add to our admin success.

Another Gibb showing athletic ability!

1984-85

Nowra's 25th year, an Olympic year, saw everything get bigger and better. More winter runners, a new concept of Club Relays on a day set aside for fun and team running.
The McCaffrey Shield stays with Nowra and family participation continues to grow. The summer season overshadowed the winter by vast numbers of quality performances, State Championship and National qualifiers and a National Championship. Alan Ozolins won the State 400-800 and, in the opinion of many, repeated the effort in the Nationals in Canberra. Records show he was pipped in the 400 but it took an hour to decipher the photo. His win in the 800 was clear! What a thrill for us all.

Club stalwart and Life Member: Peter Condon.

1985-86

The winter strength continued and the upsurge in winter competition over recent years was responsible for many Club members representing their various schools at District, Zone, Regional and State levels in the Schools' competition.
The second staging of the Club Relays proved more popular while the McCaffrey Shield stayed home. The Circular 7 continued to feature great support from Club members.

Track and Field commenced in September and continued with great performances at home and overseas.

Alan Ozolins, now an international, ventured overseas to tune up for the World Cup to be held in Australia and trials for the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
He made the World Cup team competing for Oceania in the 4x400 relay but missed Commonwealth Games selection by a tiny margin. On the way to these feats he again won the State 800 and defended his National Title successfully. Another young start began shining in the NSW Titles – Paul Greene won the under 14 Long Jump and placed second in the 400 metres.

Nowra's veterans also began to shine brighter than other seasons and State and National Titles came their way. John MacHugh, a thrower, was the National Title winner.

Steve Shaw and Rod Gibb continued their State Team managing duties while a group of promising juniors attended the State coaching camps.

Peter's brother Bernie Condon shows his prowess as a sprinter.

1986-87

Bigger, bigger, bigger – Club membership increased, athletes performed amazing feats at Schools, State and National Championships and Open State and Nationals in this year when Athletics NSW celebrated a hundred years of existence.
The usual Highlights continued to burn brightly in the winter season. Club Relays, McCaffrey Challenge, Schools Cross Country and State Road Relays hosted again by the Club for the 6th time. Track and Field likewise provided great success prompting Club Secretary, Jan Gibb, to salute the great effort of Club coaches Andy Ozolins and Pat Greene in her Annual Report. The Nowra Track and Field squad were doing great things. Paul Greene took out the Australian All Schools under 15, 400 title among many other State and National top performances. Dean Seager, Tracey Gibb, Karen Schreiber, Heather Ogier were worthy medallists. Branch Relays and Championships, Country Championships also produced great results. Veterans also continued to be noticed.
Rod Gibb was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Australian Schools and Open Track and Field Titles thus his local input for this year was less than normal but he was heard to crow about Nowra's athletes on his regular trips to Sydney.

1987-88

Cross Country really big these days. 4 different courses to run on, good handicapping and family participation a feature. McCaffrey Shield, Club Relays, State Road Relays and good schools performances at Cross Country.
A wet start to Track and Field but a big pointscore competition still held. Huge representation and success at Schools, Country and Open Track and Field events. Greene, Ozolins, Schreiber, Tan Dixon, Seager, Abbott, Jones, Maher, Condon, Bennett were names to star at State and National level from all age groups through to Veteran. Rod Gibb was appointed Manager of the Australian Cross Country Team for the World Championships.

Rod Gibb : proud Australian Cross Country Team Manager.

1988-89

Cross Country season a little quieter than usual but plenty of action at home. Those who went away did well. Rod Gibb added Anzac Marathon Management to his Team managing jobs and was also away a lot. Nowra distance runners were starting to take an interest in the City to Surf with some good results. Pat Maher placing second in her Veterans age group among the thousands that took part. In subsequent years Pat won her age group several times.
Track and Field started as usual with pointscore in the Pacific Schools Games year. The venue was Sydney and Karen Schreiber, Tracey Gibb, Robert Tan and Paul Greene were in the team. Robert took out the 200-400 double in his age groups. Paul went one better and added the 100 to make a treble in his age group. Success followed in Country, State and Australian Championships. This young squad of athletes continued to shine.

1989-90

The club is thirty years old and John Morris takes over as Club President. The winter season picked up from last with success at State Road Relays by our young brigade. Our runners also continued to support the City to Surf, Anzac Marathon and Southern Half Marathon. Rod Gibb is appointed an Australian Selector and to the Australian Running Commission.

The Track season began and it was realised this is Commonwealth Games year. The season was very wet and the Showground was unusable for some time. We moved to Bomaderry Sporting Complex for a while later in the season but before this the usual great performances at all levels were recorded. Nowra Athletics won State Relay Titles for the first time as Club Teams. Under 16 men and Under 18 women were the champions. Our people were also involved in the Commonwealth Games Trials and International meets. Rod Gibb was Ground Manager for these two meets and Jan Gibb was in the admin office. Through all these lead up meets the question arose "would Paul Greene be good enough to make the Commonwealth Games Team amid controversy about team numbers?" - He was! And he made the 200 metres final – you beauty!