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MSA SPECIAL DECEMBER 2020 UPDATE
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From the National Office

To our master members,

Thank you again for your support in 2020, especially in this very challenging year. The MSA Board, National Office, National Committees, member Branches, coaches, clubs, members and volunteers have been working tirelessly this year to get ahead from the effects of Covid-19. We thank you all!

In 2021, we will continue working hard to deliver more benefits to our member organisation. These are some of our projects we have been working on and cannot wait to share with you next year:

Member Portal
We will launch a secure area for our members, coaches, technical officials and administrators with educational resources to help improve swimming technique, fitness programs, coaching webinars, club development content, health and nutrition advice and much more.

Improved access for coach accreditation
We are working collaboratively to deliver a National Online Coach Course Workshop that will allow more coaches to upskill and refresh their qualifications as well as reach those in regional areas.

Events & Competition
The Masters Swimming Australia Swim League is scheduled for the 3rd and 4th of September at MSAC in Melbourne. More details to come. The 2021 National Swim Series and Postal Swims has been confirmed for 2021 - see below.

Improved IT and web services
MSA has contracted additional IT and Web services to assist with Organisational needs to deliver a faster and more efficient product to members

Fundraising
Mental Health Month scheduled for May will give members the chance to swim and raise money for a chosen mental health organisation. More details to come.

Increased connection & communication 
The Board is meeting monthly and national committees more regularly to improve communication and deliver more benefits to our members  

Policies and Guidelines
Staff from the National Office are currently still working remotely and MSA will continue in the New Year to review our policies and guidelines to be COVID Safe.

National Office
Next year, we will commence a co-sharing office arrangement with Swimming Australia. We are all looking forward to more ways to support one another and share resources where possible for the good of our sport.

We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and holiday break. The National Office will be shut from Thursday 24 of December and will re-open Monday 4th January 2021 - please contact by email.

We will see you in 2021.
best wishes
Sarah Pisterman
MSA NATIONAL COMMITTEES
NATIONAL COACHING COMMITTEE
Di Coxon – Ellis (NSW) 2022 Chair
Jacinta Stirrat (NT) 2022
Simon Watkins (QLD) 2022
Greg Gourley (NSW) 2022
Bruce Allender (VIC) 2021
Kim Tyler (WA) 2021
Elena Nesci (WA) 2021
Philip Tyrell (TAS) 2021
Anne Smyth (NSW) 2021

NATIONAL SWIM MEET COMMITTEE
Jane Noake (NSW) 2022 Chair
Leanne Beames (SA) 2021
Fiona Wilkins (WA) 2021
Susanne Milenkevich (QLD) 2021
Maciej Slugocki (TAS) 2021

NATIONAL RECORDER
Pauline Samson (TAS)
NATIONAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
Phil Beames (SA) 2021 Chair
Neil Keele (NSW) 2022
Diane Partridge (NSW) 2022
Simon Bole-Brown (VIC) 2022
Lynne Duncan (WA) 2022
John Barrett (QLD) 2021
Jayna Gordon (NT) 2021
Ray Brien (TAS) 2021

NATIONAL SUB-COMMITTEE
Robert Hardie (NBM, NSW)
2021 Chair 
Rowena Burch (WA) 2021
Stephen Cornelius (QLD) 2021
Cristan Prain (NSW) 2021
Jodie Quinn (VIC) 2021
Giorgio Romano (NT) 2021
Jo Trim (VIC) 2021
James Watson (NSW) 2021
 
12 MONTH 2021 MEMBERSHIPS
We are pleased to announce that the 2021 Season had opened and already we have seen over 150 new members join plus we have 4 new clubs start up in December.
Why not renew today for 2021!

2021 MSA National Swim Series Events

 
Branch     Date Event Location
MSWA March 27-28       SC State Championships                    Mandurah
MSQ April 9-11 State Championships Sunshine Coast
MSNT April 17-18 LC Championships 2021 Darwin
MSQ May 20-23 Great Barrier Reef Masters Games Cairns
MSV June 20 SC Championships Melbourne
MSSA July 18 MSSA LC State Cup Adelaide
MST August 21-22 SC Winter Championships Launceston
MSWA October 9-11 Australian Masters Games HBF Stadium
MSNSW October 16-17 SC Championships Canberra

 

Albany Creek Masters Duckathon 2021 – Brand New Postal Swim for 2021!

1 January 1 - 28 February 2021
Sanction Number PS01/2021
Three Levels of Duck Swims - This postal swim will motivate you to get back into Fitness, Fun and Friendship after Christmas and a disrupted 2020. It is an easy swim to undertake with participants able to choose a level that suits their swimming ability and interest.
 

West Auburns Masters 5000m ‘Turtle Swim’ 2021

1 January - 30 April 30, 2021
Sanction Number PS02/2021 
Wests Auburn Masters would like to challenge all Masters members to swim our “5000m Turtle Swim”. The swim can be done anytime between the 1st January 2021, and the 30th April 2021, and can be swum in a 25m or 50m pool, and your reward will be a beautiful “Wests 5000m Turtle Swim” surprise exciting item and certificate to acknowledge your achievement.


Baddaginnie Animal Postal Swim

1 April - 30 June 2021
Sanction Number PS03/2021
In its 34th year - unleash the animal within by swimming the following 5 events in one day - 200m Fly, 200m Back, 200m Breast, 400m IM and 800m Free
 

Bunbury Masters Winter 3×400 Postal Swims

1 May - 30 June 2021
Sanction number: PS04/2021
The Bunbury Masters Winter PS is back for another year! If you are not a regular endurance swimmer, this may be the motivation you need to improve your fitness and/or swimming skills – with a little more to aim for than just doing laps!

Toowoomba Tadpoles 1500m Swim in July 2021

1 July 2021 - 31 July 2021
Sanction Number: PS05/2021
More details to come

Tuggeranong Trifecta – Postal Swim 2021

1 July 2021 - 31 August 2021 
Sanction Number: PS 06/2021  
Three swims, each in a different stroke: 400m, 800m, 1500m Entry fee: $25 per swimmer…This one will warm you up. Just the thing for those wintry days! Double dip - a postal swim for you, and some Endurance 1000 points for your club.

 
Masters Swimming NSW
MSNSW has had a busy end to 2020 with Mitch Patterson holding seven successful coach clinics over the past month and is available (and keen) to host more in the new year. Who’s up for it? Could your pool host one? Contact the MSNSW  branch office if you’d like to organise a magic experience for you and nearby Masters clubs.
Campbelltown Collegians starts off MSNSW year on Saturday 23 January from 10am then Myall Masters at beautiful Tea Gardens on 13 February followed by Cessnock 6 March and Blacktown 20 March.
Images below: There was a lot of fun, friendship and some fitness at the Hunter Reconnection Mini Meet @ Maitland with swimmers from Myall, Crocs, Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Cessnock. A big thank you to Jane , Kerryn and Lawrence who gave up their time and travelled up from Sydney to keep things running  
Masters Swimming NT
MSNT is back to normal with their swimming programs operating as they have been ore-COVID, their final Interclub of the year was held on 29 November and they have held their usual Xmas celebrations.
Image below: Henry, Vida, Sandy, Pat, Sharyn, James, Giorgio and Hayden
Masters Swimming QLD

MSQ has been very busy preparing for an action-packed year of swimming in 2021. Meet flyers are being prepared, sponsors pursued, accommodation organised and programs planned. We look forward to welcoming swimmers from across Queensland and interstate now that borders are reopening. MSQ will continually reassess meet details due to the evolving COVID-19 conditions to ensure that swimmers’ well-being is the highest priority.

The MSQ Postal Time Trial Meet was completed and results have been published. They were thrilled that so many joined in, many with open invitations to swimmers from other clubs. 17 clubs entered the Long Course events, with a total of 112 swimmers and 538 entries. 18 clubs participated in the Short Course events, with 126 swimmers entering 522 events in total. That’s a whopping total of 1050 swims! It was great to see swimmers enjoying the challenge and having fun with friends and community at the same time. Fitness, friendship and fun is what it’s all about!

Masters Swimming Queensland would like to wish to you all a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays. We are very much looking forward to a year full of action-packed swimming fun in 2021!
Image below: North Mackay Sinkers received their much-deserved fundraising rewards from the 2020 Mackay MS Swimathon. Although the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the team raised over $6,000 - a new record for the Sinkers Masters Swimming club.
Masters Swimming SA
Everyone attending the first swim of the MSSA Summer Series had a great day with the weather being ideal!
Their were swimmers from Uni SA who are in the process of becoming a Masters Club racing and showing their style. Some very fast young swimmers! Phoenix Masters took out first place with 265pts, followed by Adelaide Masters with 232 then Tea Tree Gully in third with 207pts. The Results are now available on the website:
https://mastersswimmingsa.org.au/.../mssa-pool-series.../
The next swim in the Summer Series is at Gawler Swimming Centre on 31 January with entries closing on 15 January. Don't miss out!
Images below: From the first swim of the MSSA Summer Series 
Masters Swimming Tasmania

The Weather Gods were shining on the Hobart Dolphins a couple of Saturdays ago as almost 60 club members and their families met at the Waterworks Reserve for their annual Christmas celebration and presentation day. They acknowledged the sad loss of four past members during 2020, but also took pleasure in celebrating their achievements of the past 12 months and reflecting on the positive way the club navigated the obstacles of ‘2020’.

The achievements of Club members throughout the year were celebrated with Club Perpetual Trophies going to:

Club Person of the Year: Diane Gregory

Swimmer of the Year: Megan Stronach

Most Improved Swimmer: Siska Hocking

Six Individual and 5 Relay Branch Record certificates were presented and they were very excited to pass on FINA top ten patches to Margie Clougher for 2 individual and 2 Relay Top 10 Rankings in 2019 and to Jan, Wilma, Anne and Megan for Relay Top 10 Rankings. The huge effort of coach Steve throughout the year was also acknowledged.
Image below:  Hobart Dolphins FINA Top ten relay winners in 2019.
Masters Swimming Victoria
MSV members and clubs are getting back into the pool with renewed gusto and have 3 new clubs that started up from the 1 December 2020. 
One new club is the Melbourne Open Water Swimming Club (VMO) who are a group of 40 odd swimmers who have been swimming at Williamstown for the last few years.  The club is about developing an ability to host safer, supported open water swim groups, squads, clubs and events. if other clubs are looking for a chance to swim in the sea every now and then, our equipment is for loan or hire.
Another new club is the Mornington Peninsula Masters Swimming Club based on the southern peninsula. They are very excited about the year ahead as they start to build their member base. From two different groups - a new smaller group that started out of Pelican Park Recreation Centre in Hastings and Crib Point pool in the start of 2020, and a more established group, the Aquaholics, swimming out in McCrae and Rosebud for more than twenty years, they are now one group and a new club. MSV cannot wait to see them all on pool deck.
Image below: Mornington Peninsula first combined swim/social function - on a wild and woolly day
Masters Swimming WA

MSWA LiveLighter WOW Swims open water swimming series kicked off with the Lake Swim hosted by Maida Vale Masters Swimming Club at Lake Leschenaultia on November 9th. Over 200 swimmers hit the water for distances of between 400m and 3.2km. Fremantle Masters hosted their annual LiveLighter Club Challenge in November with great participation numbers. A LiveLighter Friday Fundamentals swim clinic was also hosted by the branch, attracting 10 participants.

December saw round 2 and 3 of their WOW Swims events. The Fremantle Ports Swim Thru, hosted by Fremantle Masters Swimming Club, sold out and attracted over 450 swimmers. The Christmas 10k, hosted by Cockburn Masters, took place on December 19th and has been sold out online for over a week.

Looking to early 2021, they have the City of Joondalup Mullaloo Mile (hosted by the branch and  Westcoast Masters Swimming Club) and Coogee Jetty to Jetty in March. The Coogee Jetty to Jetty event, hosted by Cockburn Masters, is already sold out online. Registrations have recently opened for the Mullaloo Mile and are going well. Open water swims are proving to be an incredibly attractive option for both Masters Swimmers and the general public in WA.
Images below: From the Fremantle LL Club Challenge, Friday Fundamentals with Kareena Preston is from our swim clinic, from the Fremantle Ports Swim Thru and from the Lake Swim.
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. Please email is the best way to contact us during this time - admin@mastersswimming.org.au.
What to do with your old pool noodle!
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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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