By Molly Magennis
Australia’s first official swimming club dedicated to open water swimming has opened in Williamstown.
Melbourne Open Water Swimming was officially launched by Williamstown MP Melissa Horne on December 18, where the club had live entertainment, a raffle and a summer solstice sunset swim to celebrate.
Secretary of the club Jason Bryce said that COVD and lockdowns have ‘supercharged’ interest in open water swimming, evident from the 60 paid-up members the club already has, not to mention the 550 people on the mailing list.
“This is a fast-growing sport and is particularly popular among adults and seniors,” he said.
The club was established to make ocean swimming safer and more accessible to a wider range of people of all abilities, and will do so with special equipment, classes, coaching, education and safe swim events.
Every Saturday morning the club will support people swimming at Williamstown Beach. Bryce said that people trained in first aid will be on rescue boards to keep an eye on swimmers and the conditions around them.
“We do this so people can feel safer and more supported and so people of all abilities can access this wonderful outdoor activity,” he said.
“This swimming club is not particularly competitive although we do support some really talented young swimmers. We are more concerned with supporting healthy lifestyles and safer swimming in the ocean.”
Melissa Horne said it was fantastic that Williamstown was getting it’s own swimming club that will help provide support for safer swimming at the beach.
“This is a very fast growing sport and activity that is enormously popular and with so many people needing better swim skills this is a sorely needed organisation,” she said.
“We’re proud that Williamstown is again leading the way with Australia’s first swimming club based at a beach.”
Details: www.melbourneopenwaterswimmingclub.org/
