Masters Swimming Australia eNewsletter
December 2015
 

Masters Swimming Australia would like to thank and congratulate all members, technical, club officials and coaches for your contribution to the MSA 40th anniversary year. We wish everyone in the swimming community a happy and safe Christmas and New Year and look forward to welcoming you back in 2016.

The MSA office will be closed from Thursday December 24 and reopen on Monday January 4.

(Pictured: Members from MSV's Gippsland Flippers enjoying their club Christmas Party)
 

2016 12 Month Memberships opened on 1st December.

Please take the time to go into the Member Portal and re-register for 2016. Important information on reregistering successfully, as well as registering with your second claim club for 2016 can be found HERE.

If you require your log in details, please contact the office or have them emailed to you via the Member Portal.

We also thank all club registrars who work hard at this time of year to ensure the smooth transition for all members. A friendly reminder to visit your club consoles reguarly to make your paid up members active!
 

Following the success of our 2015 swimming cap, MSA and Vorgee have added a new swimming cap to our merchandise range just in time for the 2016 membership year.

The caps are available to members on registration for a discounted $10.00 (plus postage) for those who wish to purchase at the time of registering. For those who have missed out, the cap is also available through the MSA merchandise store.
 

Following the retirement of Ivan Martinovich from the National Board of Management in October, Neal Bertram has joined the Board in the casual vacancy. Neal is a long time member and current President of Marion Marlins Masters Swimming Club in Adelaide and we welcome him to the Board.

The NBM are a group of five members who have volunteered their time to guide this organisation. We thank Ivan for his contribution to the governance of MSA during his term.
 

There are a number of members who volunteer their expertise to assist with running MSA by serving on our National Coaching, Technical and Swim Meets Committees. Also, our National Recorder, Pauline Samson volunteers her time in managing the results portal and being the link to FINA for registering Australian records.

MSA appreciate their "behind the scenes" assistance. See who they are.
 

Congratulations to Blacktown Beaver's Clary Munns (MSNSW) who was presented with two FINA World Record certificates in October.

Clary set the Short Course World Record for the 70-74 women's 400IM in April with a 6:51.30 swim and the Short Course World Record for the 200IM in May with a 3:09.9 swim. Congratulations Clary!
 

Congratulations to Doncaster Dolphin's Dorothy Dickey (MSV) who was presented with a FINA World Record certificate in September.

Lady Dot set the short course world record for the 85-89 women's 800m Freestyle in April with a 16:23.22 swim. Congratulations Dot!

Twenty-one MSA members were awarded for reaching Vorgee Million Metres milestones in November 2015, bringing the year's total to 48 recipients for 2015. MSA and Vorgee would like to congratulate all the members who reached a million metre milestone in 2015.

The first Vorgee Million Metres Milestone application date for 2016 is Monday February 1. 
Record card and application forms.

The following recipients may inspire you over the summer:

• Barbara Brooks - Ten Million Metres
• Ray Brien - Five Million Metres
• Theresa Elliott and Richard Fox - Three Million Metres
   

A reminder for all club recorders that all swims completed as part of the 2015 Vorgee Endurance 1000 program are due into the Endurance Portal by no later than Thursday January 14. No late entries will be accepted. 

Good luck to all finishing their final swims for 2015!
 

2015 Results

 The MSNT Long Course and MSNSW Short Course Championships in October saw the conclusion of the 2015 MSA Swim Series and the announcement of the 2015 winners. Winners came from six Branches – 12 MSV, 6 MSNSW, 4MSQ, 3 MSWA, 2 MSTas and 1 MSNT.

Three members competed in five meets of the series, with Maciej Slugocki (TAC), Susan McCaughtrie (NSA, QDU) and Rowena Burch (WAM) spotted criss crossing the country. A special mention also goes to the four repeat winners from last year – Daphne Briggs (VMV), Mark Thompson (VPP), Maciej Slugocki (TAC) & John Cocks (VMV). 

View the Results Summary Here.
  

2016 Meets

The 2016 Masters Swim Series will again boast a mix of Long and Short Course meets from around the country. Eight meets will make up the series, with the highlight being the 2016 National Championships, to be held in Melbourne in April.

View the 2016 Masters Swim Series Meet dates and start planning.

The first starters gun of the 2016 MSA National Championships will go off in exactly 4 months time and the Surrey Park Seahorses (pictured left) are doing handstands they are that excited!

To help you prepare, the organising committee have provided the following messages:

Registrations Update

The advertised opening date for registrations (Thursday December 10) has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. The new opening will be advised shortly. 

The organising committee apologises for any issues this may cause and thanks you for your patience. 
 

We are going GREEN!

The 2016 Masters Swimming Australia National Championships will be the most sustainable National Championships yet, as MSV joins forces with the Sports Environment Alliance Group. 

View Press Release.
 

Technical Official & Volunteers Update

Please note that the volunteer profile portal will be open shortly for all technical officials and volunteers to register their interest and availability. Once open, an email will be sent to those who have already informed the office of their interest. 

View the 2016 National Championships webpage.
Stay in touch via Facebook.
 

The New Zealand Masters Games are back for 2016! The Games are scheduled to be held in Dunedin from January 30 to February 7, 2016 with approximately 6000 eager participants expected from all around the world.

Registrations are now open and organisers invite you to be a part of New Zealand’s largest multi-sporting event and smile as you tick it off your bucket list.

Discover More.
 

CLICK HERE for a current list of meets and events to be hosted by Masters Swimming Australia and our Branches in 2016.

Please note that more meets and events will be included, so keep checking for updates!
 

MSA New Club Coaches!

MSA would like to congratulate Felix Shen, Fiona Thomas and Nicole Dainton on attaining their MSA coaching accreditation. The three coaches recently completed all requirements of the updated MSA Club Coach Course following workshops held by MSWA, MSV and MSSA.
 

Read about the MSSA November Coaching Workshop.
View upcoming Workshop Dates.
 

ASCTAconference 2016

The Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) has confirmed that the asctaCONVENTION 2016 will be held at the luxurious Sofitel on the Gold Coast from May 4-11. With the 2016 Olympics next year, the focus of the event is the road to Rio. Learn More.

Coaching Tips and Hints

Combating the harsh effects of chlorine... the TRISWIM range, as used by Masters Swimming USA, is now available in Australia.

TRISWIM is voted in the top 3 products worldwide to actually remove chlorine and of these three, it is the only one available in Australia.

TRISWIM is a unisex range for all ages that removes chlorine and chlorine odour, heals dry/itchy skin, eliminates pool rash and eczema, hydrates and moisturizes, eliminates green tint, has salon quality and a refreshing clean scent you will love.

Enter the code MSA2016 at checkout to receive 20% off the entire SBR Body Care range. 

For more information click here or visit www.sbrbodycare.com.au
 

New South Wales

MSNSW members are making a splash! Read more in their November eNews.

Northern Territory

Twelve members of the Darwin Stingers Club competed in the annual Singapore Masters Meet on 18 October 2015. Read More.

Don't forget to save the date for the 2016 Alice Springs Masters Games - October 8-15! 

Queensland

Read the latest MSQ eNewsletter for recaps of 2015 from a number of MSQ clubs. Read more.

South Australia

MSSA celebrated the end of 2015 with their Annual Presentation Dinner in November. Congratulations to all who were involved in the MSSA community in 2015. Read More.

Tasmania

MSTas wishes all members a safe holiday period and look forward to seeing you back in the pool in 2016!

Victoria

MSV recently welcomed Chloe McCardel on board as their Open Water Swimming Ambassador, joining Pool Ambassador, Linley Frame. Read more in the MSV December eNews.
 

Farewell to clubs leaving us: Silver Sharks and Wimmera Masters.

Welcome to new clubs: M1 Swimming Club (One Club) and Wodonga City Swim Club (One Club). 

Western Australia

MSWA members have recently been swimming for a cause. Let them inspire you.

Farewells: MSWA and MSA would also like to thank Executive Officer, Wendy Holtom for her contribution to the MSA community. Wendy, a very popular and successful advocate of swimming in WA, recently announced that she will be retiring from her role on January 22. We wish her and her family all the best for the future and let her know that we will miss her.
 

FINA Aquatics Magazine

The FINA Aquatics World Magazine has been consistent for six years, with each edition providing truly inspiring articles. The final edition of 2015 gives readers an inclusive and fascinating inside look at the world of champions of Kazan, two alluring features of the future and past generations and much more!

Enjoy their latest issue.
 

Swimming Australia Community News

Read the November edition of the Swimming Australia Community eNews.
 

Play By The Rules

The Play By The Rules October magazine focused on mental wellbeing and is a great read. View Here.
 

Otter Aquatics 2016 Swimming Tours

Otter Aquatics invite you to join them in 2016 for one of their three swimming tours. Learn More.

This email was prepared and sent by Jane Barnes.
Masters Swimming Australia
Level 2 Sports House, 375 Albert Road, Albert Park, Australia, 3206