2024/25 Presentation and Awards Night

Our Annual Awards Presentation was held on May 10 at the Italian Australian Club in Morwell. The evening’s festivities began with a Recap of the past season accompanied by a ppt of photos from the many events, camps, competitions and awards ceremonies that made up another busy season.

This was followed by presentation of squads by our coaches and the awarding of Coach’s Trophies for each squad. Our coaches did an amazing job of recognising the strengths and accomplishments of each of their swimmers. Age Champions were acknowledged and several special Awards, listed below, were given.

Special presentations of the night included the awarding of Life Membership to Renee Cargill who has been a valued and industrious club member since 2013. Renee is currently our Uniform Officer and one of our amazing team managers. For years Renee has organised the breakfasts at Country Championships and Gippies and she organises our SC Country Camp each year, planning accommodation, meals and transportation for that well-loved annual camp. Renee is a coach for the Junior Development Squad and brings her boundless enthusiasm and Learn to Swim knowledge to that role. She is also a qualified technical official who regularly works at our meets and GSI competitions. As well, Renee swims for the club as needed and does all of this with a deep love for the Traralgon swimming Club.

Two other members and coaches, Cameron Juha and Dean Gooch, were also awarded Life Membership. Our By-Law states that a Life Member is someone who has had a positive and measurable impact on the development or success of the Club. These criteria are both true of Cameron and Dean.

Cam, a club swimmer for the past 24 years and coach since 2014, is involved in many areas of the club, most recently as the liaison between the YMCA and Latrobe City during the planning and preparation for the Country SC Championships in August of 2024. He is an outstanding coach and a dedicated and enthusiastic member. Cam’s contribution and his passionate commitment to the Club will continue to make a difference into the future and we congratulate Cam for his Life Membership.

Dean Gooch has been with the club since 2013 when he joined us as our High Performance Coach. Dean has been working with our National and Target squad since that time and has consistently produced National finalists and medallists – and swimmers who enjoy swimming. He is organised, dedicated and has a wonderful capacity to connect with the teenagers he coaches. He works closely with his swimmers to devise individual programs that suit their goals and capacity and his understanding and efforts make a huge and measurable difference to the culture and success of our club. Congratulations Dean, Life Member!

Masters Secretary and swimmer, Shannon Lorimer, was awarded the Bruce Cain Outstanding Contribution Award for her hard work getting the Masters Club affiliated with MSV and competing in Masters events. We have had representatives at the MSV SC and LC Championships and at the National Masters Championships – and this is only the beginning!. Congratulations and thank you , Shannon.

Congratulations to Ashley Nicholes who is our Club Champion for the 3rd year.

We inducted 6 swimmers into our National Swimmer Hall of Fame and congratulated Archer Marsland, Aliza Couling, Chloe Szkwarek, Milla Said, Zayden Burton and Tom Pendergast for qualifying for and swimming at the National Age Championships as part of our team. https://traralgonswimming.org.au/traralgon-hall-of-fame/

We also gave Service awards to 2 swimmers who have swum continuously with the club for 10 years. We congratulate and thank Brody Cargill and Emily Auteri for their loyalty and efforts over the past 10 years.