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MSA WELCOME TO 2021
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From the National Office

DEAR MEMBERS
Welcome to a new year and we hope you had a lovely holiday break. 
After the rollercoaster year of 2020, we approach the new year with a sense of energy and appreciation of the opportunities ahead of us. With the National Office on the move this month, we have an abundance of activities and swimming around the country. Please see the events listing on the MSA website for more details HERE 
Members please be reminded to renew your club (and Masters Swimming Australia) membership before venturing back to swim training with us in 2021; and thank you to those who have already renewed for the year ahead. 
This year we continue to keep connected and thrive as a swimming community. Ensure you take care of yourselves and those around you in a COVIDSafe way. As we begin the new year, please check with your Club or Branch relating to their COVIDSafe procedures whether it be at training, at events and/or social functions. 
Wishing you all a very safe and healthy return to swimming in 2021. 
Regards
Sarah  


Results of the NBM Election 
We are pleased to confirm and congratulate Jane Noake (President) and Jodie Quinn (Director) in their respective positions to the National Board of Management.  The results of the ballot will be ratified at the upcoming AGM in April.

Jane has been elected as President of Masters Swimming Australia, is looking forward to 2021 and the opportunity to look at the organisation and make changes to sustain and grow our membership. “The advantages of joining masters are our coaching, the opportunities to compete, the endurance program, the various social activities and the club culture to name a few”, she said. Jane is looking forward to working with the National Board, the committees and the many wonderful volunteers and staff through the organisation.
Jodie has been elected as Director on the National Board of Management for Masters Swimming Australia. “This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in both the support and growth of recreational swimming at a National level”, Jodie said. She is an advocate of the many benefits that swimming brings, including both physical and mental wellbeing. Jodie brings extensive finance and CRM experience to the master’s organisation.
Our Committees
  • The National Swim Meet Committee met last Friday via Zoom and will be reviewing the Meet Directors Guide and Guidelines for Postal Swims; as well as creating COVIDSafe Guidelines for attendees and meet events. The committee will also be steering Mental Health Month in May and designing the event format for a Swim League event in September.
  • The National Coaching Committee met last month and discussed the national rollout of the online Club Coaching Course. Please contact admin@mastersswimming.org.au for further information. The immediate focus for Coaching has been goal setting, planning, swim events and relays meets with in a COVIDSafe environment.
  • The Project 2025 National subcommittee will be meeting 11 February via Zoom.
  • The National Technical Committee to confirm their next meeting.
12 month 2021 MEMBERSHIPS
The 2021 Season is well and truly up and running. Since 1 December 429 new members have joined that is up from 347 new members at the same time for the 2020 season. If you have not yet renewed please do so and if you know someone who might be interested why not let them know now is the time to come and try!
#fitness #friendship #fun
Vorgee Sponsorship Renewed
We are delighted to announce the renewed sponsorship agreement with long term major partner Vorgee. Vorgee’s sponsorship allows MSA to reinvest back into masters swimming and we thank John and his team for supporting our organisation and look forward to the year ahead.
Congratulations to Robert Kirkbride (bottom left) from Oak Flats Masters, seen here modelling his well-earned FOUR million metre polo shirt and Roger Dibden (bottom right) from MSQ Barbarians for achieving FIVE Million Metres.  It is easy to be part of the Million Metres program - just start counting and recording your laps.
E-1000 Update

A quick review on all things E-1000 with MSA National Recorder and Life Member Pauline Samson
Even though there will be no club awards for e1000 for 2020, many clubs still offered the opportunities to swim and be timed. 

With 2020 being disrupted with pool closures and many swimmers unable to find suitable training venues, it was pleasing to see the number of swims added to e1000, either from time trials or club training. Some had got in early and completed many swims in January and February and then when pools opened (even for a short time) were back clocking up the kms.  The number of swimmers with times in e1000 was 1306 and 44 completed all swims with 33 achieving maximum points.

Some members have achieved milestones of over more than 15 continuous years of either all/and or maximum points since 1993:
Tracy Clarkson QBN (22), Jenny Whiteley (27), Kay Bailey (19) Kerry Blanch (16) Colin McCraith (21), Brian Walsh (26), Peter Coyle (16), Russell McLeod (27), Michael Parkinson (20), Jonathan Patterson (18), James Pelosa (17), Brenda Day (15), Rob Lucas (20), Hilary Morrison (18).
I should mention Julie Fechner (VDC) who up until 2013 had completed 20 years of max points and then injury saw that come to an end. My apologies if I have missed anyone.

A few swimmers also completed all the swims for the 1st time or backed up their achievement from 2019.

Hopefully 2021 will see a return to the club awards and maybe a few more people will join the program.

PS when attempting a 60 minute swim, try to complete at least 3km. This time can be included in the your personal history in the portal and a ranking in the national top 10. Reminder that if the swim is backstroke, you must touch on your back at the 3km mark.

LIFE MEMBER AWARDS
Congratulations to our newest Life Members John Pollock and Gerry Tucker who have been very patient through the Victorian lockdown to receive their Life Membership plaques. Well done!
Below left is MSNT & Darwin Stingers member John Pollock who was presented with his plaque at the recent Australia Day swim - here he is with MSNT President Neil Ludvigsen. 
Below right is Malvern Marlins and retired MSA President Gerry Tucker who was awarded his plaque at a socially distanced Christmas catch-up with MSA GM Sarah Pisterman, MSA Finance Director Andrea McNeil, MSV President Rachel Cairns and MSA staff members.
WHAT'S ON

2021 MSA National Swim Series Events

27-28 March, MSWA SC State Championships - Mandurah 
9-11 April, MSQ State Championships - Sunshine Coast 
17-18 April, MSNT LC Championships 2021 - Darwin 
20-23 May, Great Barrier Reef Masters Games - Cairns (MSQ)
20 June, MSV SC Championships - Melbourne 
18 July, MSSA Interclub 2 - Adelaide
21-22 August, MST SC Winter Championships - Launceston
9-11 October, Australian Masters Games - Perth (MSWA)
16-17 October, MSNSW SC Championships - Canberra

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

1 January 1 - 28 February 2021
There is still plenty of time to support our newest Postal Swim - why not try out one of their 3 Levels of Ducks!

West Auburns Masters 5000m ‘Turtle Swim’ 2021

1 January - 30 April 30, 2021
Are you coming back for the challenge to swim their “5000m Turtle Swim”. 

Baddaginnie Animal Postal Swim

1 April - 30 June 2021
In its 34th year - unleash the animal within by swimming the following 5 events in one day.

Bunbury Masters Winter 3×400 Postal Swims

1 May - 30 June 2021
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
More details to come
Tuggeranong Trifecta – Postal Swim 2021

1 July 2021 - 31 August 2021 
This one will warm you up. Just the thing for those wintery days! Double dip - a postal swim for you, and some Endurance 1000 points for your club.

 

Do you want to stay in the know with all things Australian Masters Games
It's super easy to sign up, just follow this link  http://bit.ly/3mWwj1q, add your email address to their mailing list and DONE ✔️ Yep, it's that simple. This way you will never miss a beat, and be ahead of the game when it comes to the 2021 Australian Masters Games.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CLUB LAND

Whilst many of us have been on holidays, there has been a hive of activity throughout the masters community and we in the National Office have been keeping a close eye on Club and Branch social media. If your club has some stories/events to share please email admin@mastersswimming.org.au
We hope you enjoy some of the wonderful stories from clubs and members. 

Great to see Busselton Masters taking part in the Margaret River Ocean Swim at Gnarabup Beach and they also held a social snorkel session on the Sunday which looked fantastic! And if the person on the far right looks familiar you are right - it is MSWA CEO Sophie Row who joined in the fun!
How enthusiastic are one of our newest MSA Clubs Narooma Masters? Not only did they all turn up early for a training session and the pool wasn't even open yet - they made the most of the extra time and did some warm up exercises. 
It was a great turn out in the pool over the weekend for Brisbane Northside Masters. With over 24 swimmers at one session at Valley Pool Brisbane and another great day at their home away from home (Musgrave Pool) they are one active and welcoming Masters Club.
On the 17 January 2021 for the 300th time in a row, Warrnambool Whales member John Sheely treked out to the Warrnambool foreshore and completed three kilometres of swimming. What started out as a means to continue his swimming after the pool closed due to COVID, has turned into a sort of obsession for him. We better check-in and see how is going now!
The Tea Gardens Swimming Pool is looking great and ready to welcome swimmers to the Myall Masters carnival - 13th February 2021. Entries close Friday the 5th, midday so if you can enter do it today! They cannot wait to see all your smiling faces on pool deck!  3rd time is a charm!
Great to see such a big turn out for MSNT  Australia Day Carnival and Interclub#1. Checkout the MSNT Facebook page to see ALL the amazing shots from the day.
Superfins are back and taking part again in the 
Channel 7 Port to Pub with Hotel Rottnest  Michael Nguyen, James Burt, Kim-Heula Smith, Dylan Coop, Dylan Broadway and Mark Paull make up the 2021 team - they’re training several times a week together to get ready for their 19.7km swim!
The Superfins Club is a squad for swimmers with disabilities, and trains swimmers at all levels, from beginner to competitive. Great work!
Gladstone Gropers are just one of many MSA Clubs/Members who are taking part in the Laps For Life and their TEAM PAGE  is now live!  During the month of March the Gropers will be swimming and fundraising to help young people experiencing mental health issues. Donate to the Gropers, support another Masters Teams or create one for your Club. While you are at it checkout the Gropers facebook page for some great photos as they refresh their brand as part of a COVID recovery package!
The 10th annual MSSA Open Water Swim Championships were held recently at Somerton, a great new venue. There was a record equaling 162 entries (155 who swam) in the 1 and 3 km events. Choppy seas made for a challenging conditions, particularly over the longer distance. Team Trophies were hotly contested with Marion Masters winning the Aggregate Points Trophy while Phoenix Masters won the Average Points /Swimmer Trophy.
Great to see a pod of dolphins - Hobart Dolphins to be precise taking part in the Australia Day Ocean Swim at Kingston Beach (TAS). which is Race 6 of the Tasmanian Open Swim Series. They had a great time and also a variety of different approaches to finishing the race. Maybe it was the Club coffee catch-up afterwards spurring them on!
One of our newest clubs Mornington Peninsula Masters has quickly grown in 2 months to 25 members!  The club has been focussing on OWS with 9 swimmers taking part in the Pt Leo virtual swim, either 1.2lm,2.5km or both, on Boxing Day, then in perfect conditions they had 32 swimmers participate in the Pier to Pub virtual swim on 9 January  and swimmers have also competed at the Portsea Swim Classic and the Mt Martha Australia Day Swim. 
Check out the cool time lapse of the River City Masters 100 x 100s - thanks to Peter Duell and Stephen Howell.
HERE
Welcome to our newest club for 2021 - UniSA Swimming Club. They offer a fun and great way to get involved in casual or competitive swimming, providing the opportunity to make new friends and experience all that university life has to offer.
Cannot wait to see them on pool deck - well if you were lucky enough to swim at the MSSA 2020/21 Summer Series at Gawler over the weekend of the 31 January you would have seen them in action.

 
The Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (AMSHOF) is a sports hall of fame devoted to Australian marathon swimmers and marathon swimming established and led by Christopher Guesdon.
Interested in seeing the latest 2020-21 Honourees check it out HERE. You will spot some familiar masters faces.
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Our mailing address is:
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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