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MSA SPECIAL NOVEMBER 2020 UPDATE
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From the National Office

Dear Masters Member,

I hope you are enjoying your swimming, and staying safe.

This year has been challenging for all of us and as we fast approach the end of the year, I would like to acknowledge the hard work from everyone in the organisation to keep active, connected and safe.

As an organisation, we have faced many changes (too many to mention) but the future of swimming is exciting and particularly the future of Masters swimming in Australia. Although the National office at Sports House (Vic) has been empty, our homes have been very busy. Conducting monthly Board meetings, Committee and Administration meetings; creating return to work and swimming plans (in a COVID Safe environment), member portal, updating policies, establishing a new National Subcommittee and increasing our web management capability (as well as swimming some laps).

Thank you again to the National Board of Management (NBM), National Committees, Branches, Clubs, Coaches, Volunteers and all members for the support and dedication throughout 2020, we couldn’t have made it here without you.

best wishes
Sarah Pisterman

 

MSA NATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE
MSA and the NBM are thrilled to announce the “Project 2025” national steering sub-committee. The subcommittee will consist of seven (7) members and Chaired by NBM, Robert Hardie.

The focus of the subcommittee will be on membership retention, development, and growth; and will provide the NBM with advice and guidance to drive the resumption and growth of recreational masters swimming in Australia at a club, state, and national level through 2021 and beyond. What exciting times ahead! 

12 MONTH 2021 MEMBERSHIPS
We are pleased to announce that the 2021 Season will open on the 1 December 2020. We will have exciting news for our financial members from the 1 December…. Stay tuned!
CONGRATULATIONS to one of the nicest swimmers we know - Doncaster Dolphins member Dorothy (Dot) Dickey.  Doncaster recently proudly presented her with multiple Fina World, National and Branch Record certificates at a socially distanced informal ceremony outside Aquarena. The world records were awarded for distances from 100m up to 1500m freestyle, earned at the Melbourne2020 IGLA Championships held in Melbourne earlier this year before Lockdown #1. She also broke a national backstroke record. We asked Dot to tell us a bit about herself Read Here!


THANKYOU JOHN AND LEIGH                     

Thankyou from MSA to former President of Swimming Australia John Bertrand AO and current Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell for their support to Masters Swimming Australia over the years. We look forward to working with the newly appointed President of Swimming Australia, Kieren Perkins OAM, and the interim CEO Tim Dempster on bringing more people to our sport.

GET YOUR OFFICIAL AOC MERCHANDISE
Launching Monday 16 November 2020, Official AOC merchandise with 20% royalties going back to your swimming community. The site will be live on Monday (currently password protected) and includes a drop down menu to select MSA. We are so excited to be back swimming and to be part of Australian swimming and hope you are too!

#TeamAUS #mastersswimmingaustralia

MSA teams up with SDA’s Steph Cronin

As a Masters Swimmer we understand that you are part of unique group of athletes with important nutritional needs! This is why Masters Swimming Australia has teamed up with Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) to develop resources that are designed not only to enrich your member experience but to provide you with nutrition facts to improve your performance.

We gave you pre-training last month and this month listen to Accredited Sports Dietitian,  Steph Cronin’s segment on post-training nutrition for masters swimmers. You too can feel great in and out of the water! 
POSTAL SWIMS
Baddaginnie Animal Swim, Unleash the animal within - swim 5 events in one day. Revived by the Surrey Park Seahorses and is a great chance to support a Victorian club!
Entries now close 31 December!


Swimming Up Hillswhat better way to tune up your fitness, add to your endurance swims, prepare for the summer open water swimming season or just get together with your club mates & crank out some extra laps for a total of 5,900m over nine swims
Entries now close 31 December!
And they have made it easier to enter so jump on the website and enter via the smartphone app

 

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
The National Board of Management is pleased to confirm the following schedule for the National Championships in 2021, 2022 and 2023:

MSNT will host the Nationals in Darwin, April 2021.

• MSNSW will host the Nationals in Sydney, 2022 (April).

• MST will host the Nationals in Hobart, 2023.


NOW FOR A WHIP AROUND THE BRANCHES.....
Masters Swimming NSW
MSNSW held Back to the Future 3 & 4 with Campbelltown Collegians taking out points at Knox Grammar School and  Coogee Randwick on top at Ryde Aquatic Centre.  Sounds like everyone loved getting back in and having a competitive swim again!  They have 2 more Back to the Future's coming up: Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre (29 November) and Ku-ring-gai Aquatic Centre (6 December) then a Women-Only twilight carnival at Auburn pool (11 December) an exciting collaboration with Swim Sisters, Different Strokes Adult Swim School and the venue management. But wait there is more - MSNSW have been holding some freestyle clinics with Mitchell Patterson (former Commonwealth Games Butterflyer, former Masters swimmer and National record holder).and includes specific drills, technique and stroke correction/drill feedback. Great work!
Image below: some photos from MSNSW clubs getting active (and a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle)
Masters Swimming NT
Activity in the NT is still picking up, with above normal numbers attending training sessions in Darwin. Once again, at the end of October, the MSNT had the highest percentage of its population – 0.061% - with membership of MSA of any of the states and territories. They recently held their LC Championships at the Parap Pool and it was great to see everyone back in the water again and getting involved!
Image below: images from recent LC Championships and a couple of social events
Masters Swimming QLD

The MSQ Postal Time Trial Meet continued over the months of September and October and has now concluded. A large number of entries were received, and while they are still waiting on work to be done to the system to allow their Recorder to process the results the overall feedback from members has been positive. Thank you to all the clubs and swimmers who took part and for your patience as they work through the system issues. AND they are getting excited as they busily plan for 2021. But best of all check out Ken McDonald, former member of Brisbane Southside, former Uni Wahoo, and now with Hervey Bay Humpbacks. Get in the Swim!  Get it all HERE
Image below - images from around the clubs in MSQ

Masters Swimming SA

MSSA recently held a successful 2020 SC Long Distance Meet. Congratulations to their newest club, Phoenix Masters, who won the event with 292 points followed in second place by Marion on 232 points and in third place Adelaide Masters with 225 points. Possible National Records were set by: Stephanie Palmer-White in 800m Free (10m06.19s), Joanne Sutcliffe in 200m Back (2m45.08s), 400m Back (5m46.04s), 800m Back (11m38.06s), Mark Smedley in 200m IM (2m34.50s) and Grant Simpson in 800m Fly (13m01.54s). State Records were achieved by:
K Vidura, D Ross, J Sutcliffe, M Smedley, S Palmer-White, P Gunn, D Roche, D Bryce, J Vowles, H Haberfield, G Simspon, A Lewis, M Malcolm

Image below: Lunch was held at the Warradale after the "strenuous session" with everyone winding down enjoying the food and drink!

Masters Swimming Tasmania
MST have been swimming as usual for several months in Tasmania and they are ready and waiting to welcome all you interstate swimmers once restrictions are eased - and what a place to go visit and swim!  They have their SC Long Distance (1500m, 800m and 400m) meet in Launceston on Saturday 12 December. They have had a very good attendance at their last two championship meets and are hoping this will apply to their last meet for the year. AND word on pool deck is that already someone from QLD is already entered.
Image below: top left Devonport Devils, Top right Hobart Dolphins and bottom images from Launceston Leemings
Masters Swimming Victoria
It has been a long slog but MSV Clubs and Members are getting there. Pools are opening up slowly, restrictions are being relaxed and some clubs are getting back into training and don't they love it. The 2020/21 Great Victorian Swim Series which MSV is a strong supporter of will look different this time but there are some very exciting events in the pipeline. Watch this space.
Image below: another example of the amazing MSV members and all staying strong
Masters Swimming WA

MSWA recently ran their really successful Let's Swim Together campaign with 16 clubs across WA holding 19 'come and try' sessions between October 30 and November 4. There were 90 attendees overall, some of whom have already joined as members for 2021. The Let's Swim Together sessions were followed by social events such as BBQ's, coffee and cake, and afternoon or morning teas. Clubs did a fantastic job making attendees feel welcome, answering questions and incorporating their LiveLighter health message into their event.  The key objectives of the campaign were to provide new membership opportunities for clubs, and raise the profile of Masters Swimming in WA - both of which they achieved. Their social media advertisements for this campaign alone reached over 74,000 people, and their Facebook page has had 202 new follows since promotion began. Their WOW Swims open water series has kicked off, with over 100 swimmers hitting the water for the 34th Lake Swim at Lake Leschenaultia.  
Image below: from the Let's Swim Together come and try sessions

Have your say!
ASCTA are creating their first Hybrid ASCTACON event and they need your help!
Whether you're planning on attending or not, they would love your input on the ideal location, dates, program, course workshops and social events for the return of ASCTACON in 2021.
Take their brief survey and have your say!
Vorgee Million Metres
Masters Swimming Australia and Vorgee have worked closely together for over 10 years and continue to support each other through these difficult times. With all the restrictions in place in Victoria over the past few months we have had to hold off ordering the tops and plaques. But the late mail is they are getting delivered to Albert Park next week so will be in the post next week to either your Branch or Club. 
Please continue to stay safe during 2020 and thank you for staying with us and your Clubs during this time. Staff from the National Office are currently working from home in line with current Victorian Restrictions. We apologise for any delay in delivering Certificates to you during this time and we appreciate all your support. Please email is the best way to contact us during this time - admin@mastersswimming.org.au.
MSA is proudly supported by.. 
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Our mailing address is:
Level 2, Sports House
375 Albert Park Road
Albert Park, Victoria 3206

Contact:
admin@mastersswimming.org.au
Please note during this time of restrictions in Victoria, the MSA staff are working from home and will respond promptly to emails.
And most importantly please STAY SAFE

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