AGM—May 10
The TSC AGM will be held on Monday May 10 at the Latrobe Convention Centre beginning at 7:30pm. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Nomination forms for Committee positions are available from Jane. Nominations are to go to Secretary, Tony Kershaw, and can be delivered on the night.

Updated Constitution
The Traralgon Swimming Club, and all swimming clubs affiliated with Swimming Victorian and Australian Swimming, have had to update Constitutions to include issues such as Member Protection Policies. Our updated draft model can be found on our website for your consideration. This new Constitution will be put up for acceptance at the AGM on May 10.

NATIONAL SWIMMERS AT SYDNEY AND PERTH

Fourteen Traralgon Swimmers qualified to swim at either or both the National Open Championships in Sydney and the National Age Championships in Perth.

The National Open Champs doubled as the Olympic Qualifying meet in this Olympic year and presented a special opportunity for swimmers lucky enough to attend. A meet of this calibre is pretty exciting, and our swimmers rubbed shoulders with household names—Matt Welsh, Ian Thorpe, Leisel Jones and Brooke Hanson. Ben Geard performed well to swim times that were only a smidgen outside the finals. Ben swam a 24.16 in the 50m freestyle event and a 27.68 in the 50m backstroke. Twelve year old sensation, Emma Heath improved a whole second on the Out-of-Gippsland record she set at the State Sprints in February to break it again with a 31.78 in the Open 50m backstroke. Abbie Stockdale’s time of 31.45 was just outside her best, but gave her a credible finish in a tough field. We congratulate Ben, Abbie and Emma for their efforts in Sydney.

On April 11, 13 swimmers will head to West Australia for the Age Championships—for swimmers 13 and Under —18 years old. Emma, Abbie, Caitie Mitchell, Brenton Ford, Rhiannon Raun, Ben Smits, Jarrod Raun, Andrew O’Connor, Jeremy Saunders, Melissa Hopley and Liz Bacchetti have qualified in individual events in their age groups, and as well, Traralgon will have 5 relay teams competing in the championships. Charley Askew will join the team through the week in Perth to swim with the girl’s 14 & under freestyle and medley teams. Other relay teams to compete in Perth are the Girl’s 18/U Freestyle and Medley team and the Boys 18/U Medley team.

Although Courtney Ford qualified to swim in Perth, University commitments will keep her in Victoria.

The Club budgeted to support the National swimmers as we do each year. All newly qualified swimmers: Jarrod, Andrew, Rhiannon, Emma, Liz and Ben S. received embroidered maroon and grey Billabong backpacks to carry proudly. Individual event swimmers were also given a small cheque along with our best wishes and congratulations.

Congratulations to Leah Kenney who has been selected to represent Victoria in the Primary School Swimming team to compete in Queensland in May. Well done, Leah. The Secondary team is to be announced in early April.

Unluckiest Swimmer?
Whilst we are busy congratulating ourselves for the great swimming etc. at the Gippy Champs, spare a thought for Cameron Juha (10), perhaps our ‘unluckiest’ swimmer. Last year Cameron broke his arm in the lead up to Gippies—putting him out of the Championships and All Junior as well. This year, on Saturday—the first day of Gippies—Cameron was feeling unwell and later that night developed spots that could only be: CHICKENPOX! So after travelling with Mum, Sue and Dad, Frank, and brother Mitchell to training from Alberton several times each week and competing in no fewer than 19 local carnivals, Cameron was once again out of action—for Gippies AND All Junior… Bad luck, Cam. Perhaps NEXT YEAR is your year!