Phil Zdybel, The Buloke Times
The United ITF Inaugural Victorian Regional Championships which included the Buloke and Geelong Taekwon-do students, were held at Donald’s Dunstan Stadium on December 6.
The championships have been, by all accounts and feedback, a resounding success. This event marked a historic milestone, the first martial arts competition ever held in the Wimmera and Mallee regions – vast sparsely populated areas now bridged with the energy of Taekwon-do.
This was truly a United event, with every participant being a United ITF member. The success was not measured against others but instead against other members.
The actions, commitment and ability to stand strong as a regional community shone through.
Though open to outside entries, participation remained wholly within United ITF, reinforcing the spirit of unity and self-determined achievement.
The venue exceeded expectations, providing a first-class experience that more than met the needs of the event.
Particularly striking was the junior involvement. Out of approximately 40 entries, 85 per cent were under 16 years of age. Many of them were competing in their first or second competition.
The courage and enthusiasm on display really set the tone for the day!
Highlights
- Incredible response and support from the community, many friends, families, contributed to making the day a success.
- The Donald-Jeffcott Cricket Club which, with only 3 days notice, was able to organise a catered family dinner and movie night.
- Interstate respresentation from Adelaide Taekwon-do.
- Event was preceded by Buloke and Geelong Taekwon-do grading.
Acknowledgements
The smooth running of the championships was due to the dedicated and massive efforts of Darren William, John Zaffina, Joshua Zdybel, Andrew Watkins, Greg Andrews, Matt Williamson, and Georgia Wilksch.
Closing reflection
The championship left participants and supports alike wanting more. The event came through as a showcase of rural regions’ unity, resilience and community spirit. An incredibly successful event for all involved!
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 12 December 2025.
