Summer Season Closes
Today is the last day of club races for the summer season. Thank you to everyone who has made the season a great success again. We have seen high numbers of swimmers most weeks and this has led to a lot of exciting racing and competition.
A big thank you also to all of our great sponsors who have provided support to our club throughout the season.
Congratulations to everyone who qualified for and competed in the Club Championship races over the season. Our numbers of junior swimmers has grown and we have seen full and multiple heats of 25 metre races as well. And our 15 metre swimmers have also grown in numbers. We look forward to seeing the progress of our swimmers into longer races and events in the coming seasons.
Our Social Committee has worked hard to provide a range of social activities during the season and there are some school holiday events coming up. See below for more information about these events.
We hope you are able to stay for the end of season bbq and novelty events after club races today 😊
Annual Presentation & Club AGM
Our next major events are the Annual Presentation and Club AGM. So make sure you have these locked in your calendar:
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Club AGM
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Week commencing 19th May (date to be finalised and advertised on the club website)
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Annual Presentation
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Saturday 24th May 2025
Commencing 6.30pm
Club Merrylands
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If you still have any Championship Perpetual trophies at home please let our Trophy Committee (Tricia Johnston & Margaret Edwards) know so you can arrange to return the trophy.
Free Membership – 8yrs & Under
Last chance to claim the free membership for swimmers 8yrs & Under, who regularly swim in our club races, as our season and financial year concludes in 2 days. To check if you are eligible to claim a refund for this membership head to the club website here.
Changes to Opening of Merrylands Pool
A week is a long time in sport and politics (and we have seen this in both of these areas this week).
Cumberland City Council has this week postponed the planned works to the 50m pool at Granville Swimming Centre.
This means Merrylands Pool will close at the end of April and our squad training will move centres at this time.
Merrylands pool opening hours for April are:
Monday to Friday: 6am – 7pm
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: 7am – 4pm
Closed on Good Friday and Anzac Day
Stay tuned for more information about squad training session information.
Autumn Racing Carnival
As Merrylands pool will remain open during April we will be holding club races on Saturday mornings (5th, 12th & 26th). Stay tuned for the Autumn racing program. We ask that those attending races arrive at 7.00am for setup and races will commence at 7.15am. Races will be done in around an hour so.
NSW State Open Championships
Congratulations to Leo Zhu who swam in the Mens 100m Breaststroke at the 2025 NSW State Open Championships held at SOPAC last weekend.
Whilst the time Leo swam was just outside his entry time, Leo has swum exceptionally well over the long representative season and we are proud of your efforts over all of these meets
School Carnivals
Our junior swimmers continue to exceed and excel at school carnivals, with amazing results in their zone and regional meets
Good luck & may the whale be with as you move onto NSWCCC and NSWCHS level meets in April
Swim for your School
Congratulations to everyone who swam for their school as part of club races again last Saturday.
Another win for Galstaun College, who were successful over Shelley Public in the pointscore
Masters Championships
State & National Masters Championships are being held over the next few weeks:
NSW State Long Course Championships
This weekend we have 6 swimmers representing our club at these Championships at SOPAC.
Good luck to Varant Jambazian (5 events), Ian Johnston (2 events), Kylee Murray (3 events), Alison Sakurovs (5 events), Leanne Tovkach (5 events) & Ian Wilson (5 events). May the whale be with you
Keep up to date with results as information is posted during the meet on our club Facebook page.
National Long Course Championships
These Championships are being held in Melbourne from the 8th to 12th April. We will have a team representing our club. Stay tuned for more information about this meet.
Anzac Day 2025
Our club is participating in the Cumberland Anzac Day Dawn Service again this year.
Date: 25th April 2025
Venue: Merrylands RSL Club and then to Charles Mance Reserve, 6 Newman St, Merrylands
Times:
5.00am - March formation at Merrylands RSL entrance in Miller Street
5.15am - March will commence
5.30am - Dawn Service will commence
5.57am - Wreath Laying will commence
6.30am - Dawn Service Concludes
Club representatives will be laying a wreath on behalf of our club and members. Our Female Club Captain will be engaged on behalf of another group on the day, so we are seeking a Female club member (preferably a Junior member) to represent the club in the wreath laying service. If you are interested or would like more information please see Denise Assi.
Club Uniforms
Order your Club Uniforms now via the club’s online shop.
Last chance to see Margaret if you would like to order a Hoodie before the season ends.
P-Plate Award
As the season closes it’s time to reflect over any silly mistakes made during the season. The P-Plate award is the perfect way to “reward” the perpetrator of the silly deed.
Click on the link below to nominate them for the P-Plate award.
Nominate a silly mistake
Make a Donation
Did you know you can make a tax-deductible donation to the club at any time? Whilst the club’s financial year ends on 31st March, you may wish to make a donation to help out with you personal or business tax obligations.
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation already during the season, your kind help is greatly appreciated and helps us purchase equipment for our member’s benefit.
If you would like to make a donation, or know someone who would like to then click on the link below.
Make a donation
Lions Club Award
Last chance to nominate a club member to recognise their efforts in helping out. The Lions Club Award is a great way for the club to recognise the efforts of those members who exceed & excel. Whilst we think all of our members are awesome, the Lions Club award will be presented to the member voted the most awesome over the season.
Nominate a volunteer
School Holiday Activities
Our Social Committee has been busy planning a range of Easter school holiday activities. There are a range of activities available:
DIVE CLINIC @ SOPAC 16th April
We already have 16 children booked in/interested in the 9am beginners session. This session is booked out, so if anyone else is interested you will need to wait for cancellations or book into another session. Sessions & information can be found at https://www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/diving-clinic
MOVIE AND LUNCH – Date TBA
Interested in a Minecraft movie session and lunch?
CLUB MERRYLANDS ACTIVITIES
There are a range of activities available at Club Merrylands. More details here.
If you are interested in any of the above activities please talk to Sylvia Chan, as she can provide more information and will assist with bookings etc.
Upcoming Meet Calendar
Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.
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MEET NAME
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MEET DATE
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ENTRY CLOSING
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Masters NSW LC Championships
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Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th March
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Closed
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MSW 5 8 Meet
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Saturday 5th April
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Closed
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Masters National Championships
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Tuesday 8th April – Saturday 12th April
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Closed
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Set Up & Pack Up on Saturday Mornings
There is a lot to do in set up and pack up on Saturday mornings – thank you to the members who have been arriving early and/or staying back to help. These are some of the things that need to be done, with an emphasis commencing on time:-
Priority Items
- Shelter and side shade for the recorders on the lane 1 start side of the pool – lives in the clubroom near the side door.
- Plastic table and 4 (grey) chairs for the recorders. Table lives in the shed. Grey chairs from the club room.
- Wireless Router to be fitted to the time clock pole at the start end, plugged in and switched on.
- Starter podium and witches’ hats (to remind people not to walk in front of the Starter and Referee) – lives in the shed, front left corner.
- Power cables for computers to be connected to same power point as Router on pole.
- Speaker etc for starting device – lives in plastic box on Starter's podium. Place speaker on lane 8 side securely next to pole of backstroke flags and roll cable along pool deck coping to lane 1 side. Cover exposed cable with cable guards (see below).
- Starting device tripod – lives in the clubroom near the side door (same place as shelter and side shade)
- Starting device – will be on charge in the clubroom on kitchen bench
- Cable guards (6 yellow) for the Recorders & speaker for the Starter – these live in the shed.
Important Items
- Stopwatches and clipboards – black case lives in the locker in the clubroom and needs to be set up on a folding table from the shed. Turn them on.
- 15m (false start) rope (in box with Starter’s podium) and poles (in ‘old club room’). You will need someone to show you how this works and you will be so proud of yourself when you master it!
- 25m rope (for 25m, 33m & 15m races). Lives in the shed in a wire trolley and needs to be rolled out along the end (preferably 50m end) of the pool.
Final items
- Block covers removed and put out of the way under the blue shelter.
- Chairs setup for Timekeepers at both ends of the pool. Chairs live in the shed and there is a trolley to move them.
- Presentation dais (only for Championship days) – lives in the clubroom under the trophy cabinet right side as you enter.
- Umbrellas if it is raining – found in a black plastic drum trolly in the Shed – good luck wheeling this one 😊 Including the beach umbrella for the Starter.
Pack up; return everything to the location it is stored and please be careful in handling cables and ropes so as not to tangle. Sometimes the blocks get a wash if we can find a working hose.
On rainy days, placement of the recording table and all associated equipment including router will be on the veranda of the Clubhouse. No need for shelter and tables.
Remember that timekeeper watches should not be turned on until after the Router is switched on