about the orcas
orcas history and committee structureabout the orcas
Members come mainly from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, from Warrandyte in the north to Mulgrave in the south, Box Hill in the west to Wantirna in the east.
Members actively participate in still water competitions, open water bay (Port Phillip Bay), sea swim meets, and triathlon events. However, the focus of the Club is very much on fun, fitness and friendship.
An application form and details about fees are available under the Training section of this website.
Constitution
Click here to download the Nunawading Orcas Constitution as a PDF.

orcas history
Early in August 1994 Aqualink Nunawading called for expressions of interest from people who were interested in forming an Aussi Masters club based at the Centre. The Centre believed that an Aussie Masters club was needed to cater for adults who would like more organised and structured swimming and who were interested in improving their skills and fitness.
There was a good response from the public to the idea of the formation of a club and in early September 1994 the inaugural meeting of the Club took place. This was followed shortly afterwards with the first training session under the supervision of Club’s new coach Brett Gartner, a former Nunawading Club national squad member.
The Club grew steadily from these beginnings and soon had over 50 members including a number who competed in District, State, National and International level still water competitions as well as in many open water competitions held in the summer season in Victorian waters and further afield.
Over the years the membership has stabilised and the numbers training regularly have been consistent. However, there have been fluctuations in the numbers competing depending on the interests of members at any given time.
orcas committee

Larry Murray
President
Late in 2010 I went to watch the Orcas Masters Swimming group at Nunawading. It was everything I was looking for with high quality coaching, an emphasis on continued, timed improvement and a regular, challenging fitness routine. As an added bonus the Orcas are a great bunch of people who are fun to socialize with at their various, regular events.
I am delighted to be president of a club that accommodates personal objectives of fitness, technical stroke improvement, pool competition and open-water events at all ages and all levels within a friendly, encouraging environment.

Mark Williamson
Vice President

Greg Palmer
Treasurer
I joined Nunawading Orcas when it was formed in 1994 and found it ideally suited my needs. The coaching has been professional and well structured to maintain interest while improving technique in all strokes. The intensity and distance varied to maintain a good level of fitness. Social activities and friendships have made swimming in a group most enjoyable.

Rafal Nowacki
Secretary
This all changed when in 2013 I joined the Orcas. A swimming club with a fantastic, friendly environment catering for a diverse swimming abilities. I am finding my fitness and swimming times improving and with better technique I no longer experience a shoulder pain after a hard session which was something that always held me back in the past.

Brendan Powell
Coach
Since getting involved in the sport he has held positions as captain, committee member and coach of
the Boronia Swimming Club, represented Metro District East as a coach during one of their annual
interstate trips and is now coaching various squads and members of the Huntingtower Swim Club in
addition to his role as the Operations Co-ordinator at the Huntingtower Sports & Aquatic Centre.
Other roles held over the years include swim instruction, lifeguarding, pool operations, reception &
administration at almost every pool in the east metro area.
He has coached swimmers to reach the Australian National Age Championships, finals at Victorian
State Age Championships and medallists & record holders at the Victorian Metro All Juniors.
Many of his swimmers have gone on to swim instruction, coaching and surf lifesaving themselves.
His approach to coaching, with guidance from other coaches and resources within the sport is to
think logically and look critically at each aspect of a competitive event and design training drills and
sets to hone in on them. In this way many of the inefficiencies in a stroke, skill or race plan can be
reduced and improvements in each the fitness component can be achieved.
On pool deck he appreciates questions and feedback from swimmers and is animated, known to
frequently draw ever more elaborate stick figures on the whiteboard and always looking for the best
metaphor to help his swimmers visualise technique.
past coaches, committees and life members
Year | President | Vice President | Treasurer | Secretary |
2019 | Larry Murray | Mark Williamson | Greg Palmer | Rafal Nowacki |
2018 | Larry Murray | Mark Williamson | Greg Palmer | Rafal Nowacki |
2017 | Larry Murray | Mark Williamson | Greg Palmer | Rafal Nowacki |
2016 | Larry Murray | Pablo Pizzuto | Greg Palmer | Rafal Nowacki |
2015 | Emilio Badoer | Pablo Pizzuto | Greg Palmer | Friedo Ligthart |
2014 | Emilio Badoer | Pablo Pizzuto | Greg Palmer | Friedo Ligthart |
2013 | Emilio Badoer | Pablo Pizzuto | Greg Palmer | Friedo Ligthart |
2012 | Mart Hagel | Margaret Lowe | Greg Palmer | Friedo Ligthart |
2011 | Mart Hagel | Annette Brunton | Greg Palmer | Friedo Ligthart |
2010 | Mart Hagel | Annette Brunton | Greg Palmer | Peter Rush |
2009 | Mart Hagel | Annette Brunton | Greg Palmer | Peter Rush |
2008 | Mart Hagel | Brenda Cameron | Greg Palmer | Peter Rush |
2007 | Mart Hagel | Brenda Cameron | Greg Palmer | Ross Brimer |
2006 | Mart Hagel | Brenda Cameron | Greg Palmer | Ross Brimer |
2005 | Mart Hagel | Brenda Cameron | Greg Palmer | Paul Bunker |
2004 | Mart Hagel | Ross Hibbins | Greg Palmer | Anne Cole |
2003 | Rod Clarke | Trevor Jackson | Greg Palmer | Anne Cole |
2002 | Rod Clarke | Trevor Jackson | Greg Palmer | Kim Rea |
2001 | Rod Clarke | Trevor Jackson | Greg Palmer | Kim Rea |
2000 | Rod Clarke | Joanne Muraca | Greg Palmer | Sandy Broadhead |
1999 | Mart Hagel | Joanne Muraca | Greg Palmer | Sandy Broadhead |
1998 | Paul Bunker | Mart Hagel | Greg Palmer | Mike Smith |
1997 | Paul Bunker | Mart Hagel | Greg Palmer | Vicki Smith |
1996 | Terry Foster | Paul Bunker | Greg Palmer | Aine Walsh |
1995 | Terry Foster | Paul Bunker | Paul Thompson | Aine Walsh |
Year | Name |
2018-current | Brendan Powell |
2014-2018 | Alan Godfrey |
2011-2013 | Rose Nunn |
2009-2011 | Matthew Armfield |
2005–2008 | Justin Angerer |
2000–2004 | Sarah Pollett |
1998–1999 | Shane Sanderson |
1994–1997 | Brett Gartner |
The following members have been awarded honorary life membership for outstanding services to the Club.
Year | Name | Reason for award |
2011 | Mart Hagel | For services to the Club for over a decade. |
2006 | Greg Palmer | For services as the Club Treasurer for over a decade. |
1998 | Brett Gartner | Outstanding services as inaugural coach and in helping to get the club up and running. |
Awards
Each year our members are awarded trophies in three categories; president’s award, coach’s award and the best competing swimmer.
The Best Competing Swimmer’s Award
At the Club’s AGM and Presentation night a trophy is awarded to the best competing swimmer of the Year. This is determined on a points system which is maintained by the Committee.
The aim is to recognise the best competing swimmer of the year and to encourage members to compete. It is awarded to the swimmer who has accumulated the most points during a swimming year. To encourage slower swimmers to compete and stand a chance to receive the Best Competing Swimmer Award the club introduced ‘participation’ points that count toward a swimmer’s total point tally. Member’s receive one additional point for each pool race entered and two points for every open water event, irrespective of distance.
In the event of a swimmer being a member of multiple clubs, that swimmer must nominate Nunawading Orcas as their club for each swim meet they want included in the count. In addition, a swimmer must attend a minimum number of training sessions and be an active participant in club training with at least 15% of training sessions attended by the swimmer to be eligible for the Swimmer of the Year award.
If there are swimmers who finish the year on equal points then the swimmer who has the best placing at the higher level receives the award. This will be determined in consultation with the Club’s Coach.
Points System
1. State or National meets
Ten points for first place, down to one point for tenth place.
2. Club meets
Three points for first, two points for second and one point for third.
3. Participation points
One additional point for each pool race and two points for every open water event.
2018 | Yaron Shamir |
2017 | Victoria Greenhan |
2016 | Mark Williamson |
2015 | Ben Grollman |
2014 | Andrew Fisch |
2013 | Pablo Pizzuto |
2012 | Patrick Mohr |
2011 | Annette Brunton |
2010 | Peter Rush |
2009 | Friedo Ligthart |
2008 | Anna d’Alberto |
2007 | Ross Brimer |
2006 | Justin Angerer |
2005 | Margaret Lowe |
2004 | Anne Cole |
2003 | Greg Palmer |
2002 | Trevor Jackson |
2001 | Sarah Pollett |
2000 | Charmaine Lee |
1999 | Shane Sanderson |
1998 | David Pope |
1997 | Sandy Broadhead |
1996 | Peter Rush |
2018 | Ben Grollman |
2017 | David Mayes |
2016 | Rafal Nowacki |
2015 | Yaron Shamir |
2014 | Friedo Ligthart |
2013 | Brenton Edwards |
2012 | Craig Williamson |
2011 | Friedo Ligthart |
2010 | Suwito Linoh |
2009 | Suwito Linoh |
2008 | Friedo Ligthart |
2007 | Annette Brunton |
2006 | Mitch Lawson |
2005 | Anne Cole |
2004 | Kevin Furlong |
2003 | Emilio Badoer |
2002 | Wendy Masters |
2001 | Anne Cole |
2000 | Mart Hagel |
1999 | Trevor Jackson |
1998 | Margaret Stanley & Greg Palmer |
1997 | Jo Muraca & Trevor Jackson |
1996 | Charmaine Lee & Brian Peakin |
2018 | Mark Williamson |
2017 | Mark Williamson |
2016 | Victoria Greenhan |
2015 | Friedo Ligthart |
2014 | Craig Williamson |
2013 | Craig Williamson |
2012 | Chris Muir |
2011 | Suwito Linoh |
2010 | Suwito Linoh |
2009 | Johannes Achilles |
2008 | Margaret Lowe |
2007 | Anne Cole |
2006* | Anne Cole & Patrick Mohr |
2005 | Anne Cole & Neomal Jasinghe |
2004 | Robyn Gillespie & Rod Clarke |
2003 | Margaret Lowe & Rod Clarke |
2002 | Nicole Galea & Michael Drake |
2001 | Robyn Gillespie & Rod Clarke |
2000 | Robyn Gillespie & Ross Hibbins |
1999 | Linda Stewart & Mike Smith |
1998 | Vicky Smith & Terry Foster |
1997 | Linda Stewart & Kim Rea |
1996 | Sue Williams & Kim Rea |
* Prior to 2007 there were two competing swimmers’ awards, one for the best male and the other for the best female.