Issue 13, 2024/2025 by Peter Johnston - 10th January, 2025

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Merrylands 50s

Well done to everyone who competed in the Merrylands 50s last week. After some close racing, the top 3 in the final were:

1. Alison Johnston
2. Talia Jambazian
3. Jaden Morea

Congratulations!

Merrylands SwimFest

Entries for the 2025 Merrylands SwimFest are open and are filling fast. Have you entered yet? Well, there is no time like the present!

You can’t find a better meet to attend! Short and sharp with a low entry fee, close to home, free parking, full electronic timing, followed by a BBQ. What else could you want?

Our members get a 25% discount off their entries, so make sure you click the correct button to get your club member rate. Entries close on Saturday 1^st February, 2025 at 5pm. Any swimmer that can swim 50m is encouraged to enter.

See the SwimFest section of our website for all the details.

We also need a lot of helpers too! Nominate for a position here. You can also see Ian Wilson (Meet Director) as he is preparing the helpers roster for the meet.

SwimFest Helpers

The SwimFest doesn’t just happen – we need people like you to help put the meet on. From setting up, to timekeeping, to packing up, we have a job (or two) for you.

See a full list and nominate for a position here.

Got a question? Ask Ian Wilson or a member of the Committee.

Speedo Sprint Heats

The Metro South-West Speedo Sprint Heats will be held at SOPAC on Saturday 8^th February 2025, commencing at 12.00pm.

All swimmers in the Junior Squad should enter this meet. Other swimmers aged 8 -13 that can swim 50m can also enter this meet, but discuss with your coach first.

Entres close Wednesday 29^th January 2025.

Club Uniforms

Get your Club Uniforms before the SwimFest via club’s online shop.

Lions Club Award

Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping out? Nominate them for the Lions Club Award, our peak award to recognise our volunteers over the season.

Thank you to the members nominated in December. Your contribution hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Denise Assi
Joseph Assi
Gabriella Assi
Danielle Vicic
Alison Johnston
Prafulla Shrestha
Filomena Molinaro

Nominate a volunteer

P-Plate Award

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake during the season. We like to recognise and reward all efforts during the season and the P-Plate award is the perfect way to do this for something funny that happens at club.

Nominate a silly mistake

Make a Donation

Did you know you can make a tax-deductible donation to the club?

All donations assist us in upgrading and maintaining our timing equipment and results systems used at our weekly club races, hosted swimming meets, and local school carnivals.

If you would like to make a donation, or know someone who would like to then click on the link below.

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation already. Your donation has already had an impact and helped to puchase new equipment which will be used for the Freestyle Championships and Merrylands SwimFest.

Make a donation

Did you know?

Did you know that our club now runs the timing for the Merrylands/Parramatta P.S.S.A. Zone Carnival at Merrylands Swimming Centre each year?

Swimmers now get more accurate and reliable timing, and our club gets a fee too which helps to provide services for our members.

This year’s meet is on Wednesday, 5^th March. If you are available to help set up or pack up the timing equipment on this date, or are interested in learning to operate the timing system, then please speak to Peter Johnston.

If your school run’s their School Carnival at Merrylands and you think they could benefit from better timing, then you can also speak to Peter.

Seen a Problem? Get it Fixed

If you see something that needs fixing you can elevate this directly with Council by logging the issue here.

I’m Bored!

Ah, the sounds of the school holidays! If this is a regular sound around your house, maybe try the Diving Clinic that Sylvia Chan has organised for 22^nd January. We already have 7 kids signed up, so act fast!

There are both Beginner and Intermediate classes, so if you are interested, please speak to Sylvia.

Random Relay

Next week’s special event is the Random Relay. Enter via SwimCentral and see what happens.

Club Championships

Club Championships are back from the 25^th January with the 25m, 50m and 200m events. Have you qualified for them yet? Make sure you have swum the event at least once to qualify.

School Carnivals

Do you have a friend that needs practice for their School Carnival? Get them to sign up for a Come & Try membership and they can give our club races a go!

Upcoming Meet Calendar

Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.

Looking for some events to keep the kids active during the School Holidays? Club Merrylands has some holiday activities available:

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