Swim club hands out end-of-season awards

Amazing achievements and hard work were recognised as Swimming Gunnedah staged its annual presentation night last Friday.

Almost 100 people attended the celebration at Club Gunnedah, with the large attendance reflecting the swimming club’s tremendous spirit and pride during its 70th anniversary year.

Swimming Gunnedah president Louise Whitton emceed the event and paid tribute to the club that has remained united in a successful, yet challenging year.

Louise praised the dedicated swimmers, parents, sponsors, countless volunteers, the committee and esteemed life members, and she gave special mention to head coach Colin Marley who was presented with a number of special gifts.

“Colin, your dedication to our kids and club is so appreciated,” Louise said.

“You have stuck by us in very hard times and we are very grateful. Your ability to break components of swimming down and to teach kids is awesome, to have their attention to listen to learn new drills, your inspiration to do better – a PB is amazing!

“Your care and interest for our kids shows and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Season awards were presented to swimmers in recognition of their hard work, success, effort, encouragement and sportsmanship during a season full of achievements.

“We are very proud of you all,” Louise said.

“Making your first country time, doing your first 50 or representing your state. Your sportsmanship, dedication to training, getting back up after a setback, cheering your mate on is what we are most proud of.”

Each swimmer received a special gift of an action photo of themselves in the water, organised by club photographer Hayley Hausfeld and donated by Fogarty Photos.

There was also a special tribute to dedicated life member Annette Percy, who sadly passed away this year.

Annette came to the club in the early 1980s and was a long-serving treasurer, meticulous with her figures and reports. She saw the swim club change to an incorporation and oversaw many fund-raising events including that for the roof of the indoor pool.

With Annette’s swimming granddaughter Zoe and daughter Lyndal in attendance, Louise said Annette’s fellow life members described her as a gentle and kind person with a measured approach to any problem.

Life members Cathy and Steve Smith, Belinda and Geoff Dawson, Ruth Pope and Marie Hobson attended the event.

Louise made special thanks to the life members for their incredible help and support over the past 10 months, guidance on leadership, commitment to the club and their years of service.

The club president also thanked the club committee which has “worked tirelessly for the greater good of our club” and has “remained united on what is in the best interest for the longevity of our club, beyond our children, but for our grandchildren and great grandchildren”.

AWARDS:

Outstanding Achievement Award: Junior division – Banjo Fitzgerald; Intermediate – Cameron Sills; Senior – Will Jansen.

Coach’s Awards: Squad training – Wyatt Shorter; Eileen Carter Encouragement Award for Beginners – Frankie Crane; Apex Encouragement Award – Darcie Crane and Nathan Reeves.

Steve and Cathy Smith Award for 100% Effort – Macey Dalessandro; Mikki Maas Memorial ‘In the Spirit of the Games’ Award – Tahnee Steele; Lyn Miller Sportsmanship Award – Quade Young; Coach’s Award for Achievement – Riley Thompson; Hobson Family Award ‘Never Give Up’ – Jessica Broadhead; James and Jenny Myers High Achievers Award – Banjo Fitzgerald; Clare Walker Award for Outstanding Dedication and Club Membership – Dan Ramien and Rachael Maczkowiack.

Club Night Most Improved awards: Butterfly – Pippa Wark, runner-up – Macey Dalessandro; Backstroke – Samuel Wark, runner-up – Jake Hausfeld; Breaststroke – Samuel Wark, runner-up – Aiden Sills; Freestyle – Jake Hausfeld, runner-up – Samuel Wark; Individual Medley – Jorja Burden and Macey Dalessandro, runners-up – Tahnee Steele and Banjo Fitzgerald.

Age Champions: 7/8 years boys – Jimmy Fitzgerald, runner-up – Aiden Sills; 7/8 years girls – Georgie Warmoll, runner-up – Jessica Dalessandro; 9/10 years boys – Banjo Fitzgerald, runner-up – Wyatt Shorter; 9/10 years girls – Pippa Wark, runner-up – Belle Nichols; 11/12 years boys – Marsel Tikhonskiy, runner-up – Cameron Sills; 11/12 years girls – Macey Dalessandro, runner-up – Jorja Burden; 13/14 years girls – Eugenie Goddard; 15 years and over girls – Tahnee Steele.

Outstanding Achievement Award winners Will Jansen,
Banjo Fitzgerald and Cameron Sills.

Life members Steve and Cathy Smith present the award in their honour to Macey Dalessandro for 100 per cent effort.

Life member Marie Hobson (right) presents Jessica Broadhead with the Hobson Family Award in memory of husband and former coach Glen.

Tahnee Steele won the Mikki Maas Memorial “In the Spirit of the Games” award.