The Sea Eels Winter Swimming Club commenced its 36^th season on Sunday 5^th May 2024. Like all seasons, this one started with a worry about how many swimmers would return. Once again we were not let down and it was great to have many familiar faces back together again along with six new members looking forward to a full season of swimming at the iconic Coalcliff pool each Sunday.

Apart from our usual Sunday swims, the calendar was again replete with visits and touring, including a new one to Jervis Bay. A special thank you to our committee for once again steering us through another very successful season and the members and their support crew from home.

Bring-A-Friend Day, Sunday 19^th May

Our first venture, again held at the Scarborough Wombarra Bowling Club accompanied by Era Surf Club and Kurranulla swimmers and members friends. The bowling club makes us very welcome and is a great venue promoting the Illawarra coast.

Visit from the Bulli Sea Lions, Sunday 26^th May

Our first visit was from the Cronulla RSL Winter Swimmers and the Bulli Sea Lions for the annual get-together. As is becoming less than gratifying, yet again the Jimmy Johns Trophy went home with the Sea Lions which, according to them, was won legitimately without the introduction of another new rule. Following the fixed relay debacle, we took on the Cronulla swimmers and to add to our misery, they also took home the trophy. We hosted the Sea Lions and Cronulla at Stanwell Park Surf Club for a sumptuous lunch and plenty of liquid to wash it down.

Visit by Bondi Icebergs Ladies, Sunday 2^nd June

The following week saw the return visit of the Bondi Icebergs ladies, 30 swimmers in all, competitive, and just happy to be on their only annual visit to another club. Now a club favourite and our club members made it even more special with kranskys, soups and a mouth-watering lunch followed by desserts. The Bondi girls appreciate what we do, and this was shown by their generosity participating in the Raffle, Joker Poker and Fines. The Surf Club receiving a huge influx of money over the bar. The most sort after trophy for the “Ten Aside” relay (the bed pan) unfortunately went back to Bondi just nudging our ladies out, we will get revenge in 2025. The Bondi girls are most welcome back every year as they really are a breath of fresh air and a lot of fun, very generous leaving us with a cheque for $500 to go towards our main charity CRAM Foundation and enough apparel to clothe a family for a year.

Visit to the Jervis Bay Wobbegongs, 15 - 16^th June

New on our calendar was a weekend at Huskisson at the invitation of the Jervis Bay Wobbegongs and what a weekend it was, twelve members made the journey down. A meet and greet on Saturday night at the Huskisson RSL for raffles and dinner and Sunday morning what was supposed to be a swimming challenge in the bay only to be confronted with a rough surf and debris (can you believe it in Jervis Bay). True to winter swimming we had a casual swim anyway. This was followed by a warm breakfast, raffles and socialising in the park. Arrangements were made for the Wobbegongs to visit us the following year.

South Coast Winter Swimming Championships, 21^st July

Host club Wollongong Whales took care of the championships. Twelve swimmers competed resulting in four Golds, two Silvers and four Bronzes in the individual events, and Gold in the C Grade Nominated Time relay, Bronze in the 0/40s 6-Man Relay and second in the Club Championship pointscore. Once again, the swim was held at the Continental Pool North Wollongong and the dinner/presentation at the Builders Club.  

The Invitational Carnival Bondi, 28^th July

The Invitational Carnival was again a great success. With a bus load of eager swimmers ready to take on the might of some of the bigger Sydney Clubs along with many supporters. We were looking forward to another of those days at the iconic Bondi Iceberg’s Pool and were not let down with the weather favouring us. Ben Stacpoole won Silver in the Men’s Over 30s race, as did our Men’s Over 40s Relay, the Over 50s Women’s Relay came fifth, our 6-Person Mixed Relay Team and our 10-Person Nominated Time Relay ‘B’ Team came in sixth and the ‘A’ Team finished eighth. All-in-all an impressive haul. This is a fun day, and we welcome others who would like to spend the day in Bondi supporting us.

Visit to CRAM Foundation, 21^st August

Margaret and Peter Hunt, Rob Pugh, and Sandra and Peter McDonald travelled to Albion Park to one of the CRAM Foundation homes. We were made very welcomed and were able to see how the residents are looked after in these well-equipped homes. A sumptuous lunch was provided even cupcakes made in our club colours. A donation cheque of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2500) was presented to CEO Karen Burdett for CRAM residents to enhance their wellbeing.

Sea Eels WSC Club Championship Day and John Stacpoole Memorial Swim, 8^th September

For the last Sunday of the season at the iconic Coalcliff pool the competition really takes on a new direction. This is also the day when we find out who has been foxing for the whole season, usually ninety percent of our swimmers. The hotly contested Blue Ribbon event is the “Slippery Eel” for our 100% Attendance Swimmers this season three in all, Justin Larkin, Peter McDonald, Anno Woodward with El Presidente being the overall winner. With all the championship events completed it was back to the Surf Club for the medal presentation and usual socialising along with discussions about next year on how we can possibly improve the 37^th season. We’ll soon find out!

Australian Winter Swim Championships, 15^th Setempber

This season contested at the Orange Aquatic Centre. Fourteen swimmers competed in individual events and fielded five relay teams in trying conditions, although the water temperature was 23 degrees, getting out of the pool in nine degrees meant heading straight for the hot showers. We came home with two Australian medals, Ben Stacpoole finishing 3^rd in the O/30s and our A Team winning GOLD in the Nominated Time 10-Person Relay in 0.38 seconds outside of the nominated time. The dinner/presentation was held at the Orange RSL. Having all stay in the Park View hotel, Saturday lunch at Milthorpe and to finish off the weekend with a rousing Karaoke at a Chinese restaurant, you could not have a better time.

Christmas Drinks, 7^th December

Rather than impose on Sea Eels members to host Christmas drinks, the smart set jumped on a bus to Panorama House for an afternoon of great food and Christmas drinking. We have a feeling this might become a tradition, especially with the three-hour drinking package on offer. Thank you to Kim Van Zyl for making the arrangements  

Publicity

A number of reports were regularly put into the ‘Illawarra Flame’ magazine and weekly reminders plus wrap ups posted on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you to Christine McDonald for this outstanding effort.

Donations

Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2500) was donated to CRAM Foundation our main charity. Donations were received from the Bondi Iceberg ladies ($500), and from the Dorrington family ($100), following the Bulli visit. Many small donations of varying types were made by members. All bar sales throughout the season go to the Surf Club.

Fundraising

Our Fundraising is all through our incredibly generous members and guests participating in the weekly raffle donated by Margaret and Peter Hunt, fines from our Fines Masters Anne Woodward and Rod Hampson and the weekly draw from Joker Poker which amazingly went down to the wire on our last day. Functions were catered and donated by our members including the weekly homemade soups. Other revenue came through the Sea Eels cleaning the Surf Club as required.

Point Score Results

Sea Eels Championships

Major Awards

South Coast Championships - 21/07/2024

Invitational Carnival Bondi - Icebergs - 28/07/2024

Australian Championships - Orange - 15/09/2024

Committee 2024