A bumper year for Mansfield swimming

THE Mansfield Swimming Club is bigger and better than ever, with 65 members and a successful competition run to prove it. The season hasn't been easy, club President Alli Walker explains, with disruptions to training impacting preparations. "In the first week [of training] it was too cold to get into the pool," she said. "Because we have such a short season we have kids that, as soon as we're able to, want to be in the pool. "We had 25 kids on the oval at seven o'clock in the morning knowing they weren't going to get in the pool but coming to do exercise." The club had 65 members, maxing out the capacity they had for training in both morning and evening sessions for just a four month season. "Depending on which week the pool opens, we get three or two weeks before Christmas, then we have a two week break at Christmas/New Year," Alli said. "Then we have three or four weeks in January where we run a morning program and a holiday program. "We used to have 10 or 15 kids turn up. "We had 25 kids at each session turning up during January." Alli argues the high attendance is a positive sign for the community, providing a strong justification for making the pool all–weather. "With a club of 65, if we had a year–round facility, [we could create] one full time and one part time job," she said. The club has also been able to benefit from the support of dedicated parents who volunteer their time to make sure the children's experience is as positive as it can be. "We have a list of jobs that need to be done to set up the pool and we often have more parents than jobs, which is fantastic," Alli said. The club has also been able to attend competitions they wouldn't normally otherwise. "We had four of our swimmers who qualified for the Victorian Country Long Corse Swimming Championships, which were held in Wangaratta," she said. "I've been a member of the club for 12 years and we haven't had someone go to that competition. "That's the pinnacle country swimming; from then you step up to state championships and things like that." The club competed in competitions in Wangaratta, Albury, Echuca, Benalla, Bendigo, Lavington and Melbourne as well as successful runs at the primary and secondary school divisional and regional championships. "There are two swimmers from our club who are heading to state schools championships in April," Alli said. Competing is important to the club, allowing the swimmers to set goals while meeting other swimmers from around the state. "A really positive part of the club culture that we're trying to bring is about spending time together and making friends," Alli said. She says the club will have to limit membership numbers again next season, with the committee expecting even more young people to attend their come and try session. "We have four lanes in the mornings when we swim and between 25 and 30 kids," she said. "In the afternoons, we have two one hour sessions and we have between 14 and 18 kids in two lanes. "We can't fit any more in." Alli pointed to the divide in the quality of facilities between regional Victoria and Melbourne as a major contributing factor. She emphasised the importance or coordinating development to improve the quality of facilities in all sports and regions in an organised and thoughtful way. "There needs to be a master plan," she said.

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