Knox Mayor Jim Penna welcomed almost 300 guests to the reception, including Christine Billingham - widow of the late Trevor Billingham, who started little athletics clubs in Geelong in 1964 - and Alan Triscott.

Billingham and Triscott started many Little Athletics centres around Australia and internationally, including Knox.

Other guests included state and federal parliamentarians, Knox councillors and representatives from Australian Little Athletics, Victorian Little Athletics and Eastern Metropolitan Region Little Athletics Association.

Knox LAC life members and club members across the 40 years were also present. Guest speakers included George Dyer senior and Noel Rasti, who between them have been Knox LAC presidents for almost the entire 40 years, and Kellie Wapshott and Aaron Rouge-Serrett, who are both former Knox LAC athletes competing on the world athletics stage.

The night included the world premiere of Moments In Time, a 40th anniversary DVD produced by students at Swinburne University's multimedia department as a semester project.

The event was almost 12 months in the making, with the council providing sponsorship, assistance and memorabilia items.

Knox LAC's 40th anniversary track and field season will be officially opened this Saturday at 9am. Details: www.klac23.org.au