Malvern Marlins History - The Third Decade (2010 - 2019)

Malvern Marlins History - The Third Decade (2010-2019)

By Daphne Briggs

 

INTRODUCTION

In making notes for the ‘third decade of Marlins history’, it was a relief to find that John O’Dowd and Beth Ashwood had already produced summaries of the first twenty years, and that spreadsheets (recorded by Andrea McNeil and Rob Wilson) were comprehensive. Thanks to you all.

The 2010s, on reflection, were a period of unprecedented change, growth and success for the club, not to mention a time of numerous cakes and suppers. There is much to revisit, so please, make yourself comfortable and read on.

HHSC

The decade started with the outdoor pool at Harold Holt Swim Centre (HHSC) remaining closed for redevelopment works. (The anticipated eight week project, commenced in August 2009, ultimately kept us away for 68 weeks). Although grateful to have our sessions relocated to Prahran Aquatic Centre, attendances fell and membership numbers dropped to 125. Once back at HHSC however, the club rebounded and membership increased to a peak of 177 in 2017.

The club maintained its healthy relationship with HHSC staff throughout the decade; enjoying support re lane allocation requirements, and discounted centre products for members.

The centre’s community event, ‘Take the Plunge’ (that the Marlins had long supported), was discontinued in 2014.

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS

Presidents during the ten years were John Stanton, Rob Wilson, Katie Mee, John Cocks, Dan Wallace and Kathy Selig. All imparted great wisdom and care in steering the club, as well as skilfully chairing the monthly meetings (held at the homes of committee members).

In 2010, and again 2017-19, the committee successfully warded off potentially detrimental Lane Hire fees proposed by Stonnington Council, thus maintaining our long-held agreement of members paying their own pool entry fee.

Volunteers remained the life-blood of the club. Committee, Sub-committee, Tin Duty, Coach and Official roles were all voluntary. This enabled the cost per coached session to remain at $3.00/$2.00 concession. In recognition of the value provided by our dedicated and hardy coaches, a more quantifiable system of compensation was implemented in 2012.

By 2013, the number of swims per year had risen well above 5000, and our lanes were often overcrowded. A second coached session was introduced at 7a.m. on Sunday mornings. ‘Marlins 10 Swim Passes’ also came into being, to reduce the related increase in coins handled by the Banking Officer. These blue paper cards included a free swim and could be paid for via EFT. Attendances continued growing and, in 2016, a further session was added, at 7a.m. on Saturday mornings, for a total of seven coached and one ‘Endurance’ session per week. Free Birthday Swims were also introduced, adding new joy to getting older.

In recognition of the changing times, the early part of the decade saw Club Policies and Procedures formalised and a club ‘Dropbox’ account set up to store important documents.

Social Media platforms also rose in popularity, and the Marlins Facebook Group, started in 2009, became more widely used for communication. A club Instagram account was set up in 2016, and our website updated.

‘Laptalk’ (edited 2011-2018 by Ian Simpson and at the time receivable via email), was converted to a blog-style format that could be scrolled through on a smart phone. Most members now competent on-line, the last printed edition of our monthly newsletter was sent out by Sue Boekel in 2019.

Ian’s advertising background was also exploited to refresh our club logo in 2013, modernise the look of our Annual Report, update the club’s information brochure, and produce many social flyers. In addition, Ian designed the club’s Noticeboard at HHSC and our teardrop banner (promoting the club and providing a meeting spot for Marlins on the beach at Open Water events).

AGMs were held live at the Camberwell Uniting Church Hall, and included presentation of 10, 20 and 30 year service awards to members, and supper.

Life Memberships during the club’s third decade, were awarded to Julie Johnson (2010), Patrick Devine and Joan Simpson (2013), Jan Jeffrey (2014), John Marshall and Susie Kempson (2015) and Beth Ashwood (2018).

Patrick Devine, despite ill-health, continued offering CPR updates to coaches and members.

Sadly, long term members Henry Ritterman (2010), Helen Jackson (2013) Tom Currie (2015), Serry Wolf (2017), Margaret Bell (2017) and Di Reidie (2019) all died.

 

CHARITY

The club’s commitment to charity however did continue, and our interclub raffle and fund-raising swims each year resulted in generous donations to the Ardoch Youth Foundation and Swim Against Malaria. Marlins also supported the annual MS 24 Hour Megaswim in Fitzroy, our teams facilitated by Catherine Curry-Hyde, Mark Barry and later Allison Rochow.

COMPETITION

Advances in technology led to an on-line system replacing paper forms for competition entry, and ‘Clubs on Line’ replacing the previous membership registration system. MSV’s Dolphin semi-automated timing system was used for the first time at our Interclub in 2016.

Race-suits became commonplace and strict rules evolved around what constituted a legal suit (no zips, clasps or full-length suits, and one suit only to be worn).

Swimming Victoria and MSV established a closer working relationship, and a few members attended the first ‘combined meet’ in Echuca (2016). From 2017, MSV offered Backstroke Ledges for swimmers attempting records at State Meets.

WORLD RECORDS

On the world stage, the club’s third decade in Masters competition, commenced with the excitement of a World Record (WR), set by Patrick Devine, John Stanton, Gerry Tucker and Shane Hausler in the 240+ Mens 4x100m Medley Relay.

Kirsten Cameron (a New Zealander swimming as a Marlin) followed in 2012, claiming two WRs in distance freestyle events, and in 2013 George Corones (a second claim Marlin from Queensland), set five. Jan Jeffrey and Patrick Galvin were on fire in the breaststroke events; Jan breaking seven WRs in two years (2015-16), and Pat setting five between 2013 and 2018. John Cocks broke the 80-84 Mens LC 400 IM WR in 2016.

Spectacularly, the decade was bookended with another Marlins Relay WR in 2019. This time the women triumphed; Pam Kempson, Leigh Rodgers, Pat Paker and Jan Jeffrey rewriting the record books in the 280+ Womens 4x200 Freestyle.

Jan Jeffrey, Leigh Rodgers, Peter Couttie, Patrick Galvin, John Cocks and Gerry Tucker all claimed individual gold medals at FINA Masters World Championships in the 2010s.

MSA NATIONALS

Masters Swimming Australia (MSA) Nationals were in a different State each year; twenty to twenty-five Marlins regularly attending these multi-day meets.

Having maintained a strangle hold on the 240+ Relay Trophy throughout the decade, the club capped off a stellar performance in Adelaide (2019), winning the 200+, 240+, 280+ and

320+ trophies. And, after being runners-up in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Marlins that year also brought home the Founders Trophy (Highest Overall Point Score), for the first time since 2001.

Leigh Rodgers was Female Swimmer of the Meet at Perth Nationals (2018).

MSV COMPETITION AND INTERCLUBS

Marlins competed successfully, both individually and as a club, at MSV Long and Short Course meets, and were encouraged to enter the State Relay Meet each year. With excellent participation rates, and Nicky Kerr masterminding relay team combinations, Marlins won the MSV State Relay Championships nine out of the ten years and showed just what the strength of numbers can do.

The club continued hosting a Marlins Interclub annually (even in 2010, when it was held indoors at Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre). Known for being a well-run meet with a substantial meal and great raffle prizes, our interclub attracted upwards of 100 swimmers most years. Marlins also supported meets run by other clubs.

In 2014, a trophy to mark the 50th anniversary of Patrick Devine’s 220 yard Individual Medley National Record was introduced, awarded to the swimmer at the Marlins Interclub whose LC 200m IM time comes closest to the National Record.

NB. National and State records broken by club members over the ten years are too numerous to mention here, so if you’re interested in specifics, please go to the MSA/MSV ‘Results and Records’ tab via: www.mastersswimming.org.au

MSA REPRESENTATIVES

Gerry Tucker (2010-2019), Andrea McNeil (2017-2019+), and Susie Kempson (2014-2016) all served as Directors on the MSA National Board. Gerry was President (2017-19). Bruce Allender and John Marshall both had roles on National Committees. Bruce, having joined the Coaching Committee in 2010, went on to head it 2011-2019, and John served five years on the Technical Committee (2011-2012 as head).

Gerry was awarded a very well-deserved MSA Life Membership in 2016, while Bruce received a 5 years Meritorious Service Award in 2015. Bruce was also MSA Volunteer of the Year in 2017.

MSV ACCOLADES

Susie Kempson was President of the MSV Board in 2017 and Katie Mee Vice President.

Gerry Tucker (2011), Elana McNeil (2013) and Steve Bottomley (2014) were all MSV Coaches of the Year

Jeff Green (2012), John Marshall (2015), and Kath Rogers (2017) were all MSV Officials of the Year.

OTHER AWARDS AND MILESTONES

Vorgee ‘Million Metre Awards’ went to Gerry Tucker (10 million in 2018), John Marshall (3 million in 2011, 4 million in 2019), and Peter Duggan (1 million metres in 2019).

MSA’s Swim Series, instigated in 2015, encouraged members to compete interstate. Pat Galvin, John Cocks (x3), Gerry Tucker, Mark Huggins, Pat Baker (x2), Jan Jeffrey, Leigh Rodgers, Sue Boekel (x2), Daphne Briggs (x2) and Nicky Kerr all racked up frequent flyer points and won their age-groups in this competition.

Rod Watkins, after swimming the English Channel in 2018, went on to complete the 20 Bridges Manhattan Swim and Catalina Channel Swim in 2019 to achieve the prestigious ‘Triple Crown’ in Open Water Swimming.

Cousins Travel’s ‘Great Victorian Swim Series’ was popular with members and many achieved podium finishes in open-water events; Jan Jeffrey in particular the standout here.

Anne Cresswell won the 2010 COTA (Council on the Aging) Award, Jan Jeffrey and Gerry Tucker finalists the same year.

Jan Jeffrey was Masters Athlete of the Year at the 2011 Vicsport Awards, and Pat Galvin a Finalist in 2013. John Cocks won the 2016 Masters Sport Award.

The club was a short-listed Finalist for Community Sporting Club of the Year at the 2015 Victorian Government Sport and Recreation Awards.

Joan Simpson won the Vorgee Champion Volunteer Award in 2012, and Andrea McNeil, Daphne Briggs and Mark Huggins all received Higgins Community Service Awards

Elana McNeil celebrated 20 years of weekly coaching for the club in 2013.

SOCIAL

Social activities remained an important feature of club operations, with Joan Simpson the mainstay in this department. As well as organising events, Joan produced countless sandwiches, muffins and birthday cakes for regulars. Any mention of cake after morning sessions would guarantee a crowd stayed on ‘for coffee and a chat’?

The evening swimmers enjoyed regular pub nights at the Malvernvale Hotel, and honoured Elana’s coaching anniversary every year; Viki and Lauren Newton the cake master-chefs for these nights.

Annual presentation dinners were held at Georges’ Restaurant, Riversdale Golf Club and the Rosstown Hotel. The club’s 20 year Anniversary was celebrated at the Melbourne Rowing Club, and 25 Year Anniversary at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

The club’s annual ‘Pole-to-Pole’ swim and BBQ hosted by Ros and Patrick Devine continued at Bonbeach until 2013, and Sue and Peter Boekel established a Marlins’ Footy Tipping Competition in 2016.

Recurring social activities included movies, bike rides, BBQs, Cup Day festivities and trivia nights. Additional offerings came in the form of barefoot bowls, zoo-twilight concerts, stand-up paddle boarding, a retro fancy dress night, a karaoke night and a bushwalk in the Dandenongs. And from time to time, on Sunday mornings, Caroline Giles ran yoga sessions to help us recover after training.

No matter what the occasion, John Stanton and/or Ian Simpson were on hand as our talented and trusted photographers.

The decade concluded with the club looking forward to 2020 and a big year celebrating the club’s 30th Anniversary!

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