about the orcas

orcas history and committee structure

about the orcas

The Nunawading Orcas have had a constant membership of between 40-60 members since its inception, with an age range of between 20 to over 60. There are a wide range of standards in swimming. About twenty members train regularly, that is, one or more sessions per week. Training takes place at Aqualink Nunawading, Fraser Place, Nunawading.

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.

The Club has an active social program with both informal and more formal events occurring regularly throughout the year and organised by the Committee.

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.

New members are welcome and further information can be obtained by contacting the Club Secretary or talking to the Coach pool side during training times.

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

As a child I lived close to the bay but I did not start swimming until I was in my late 40’s. Initially I was “all-out” swimming 25m free-style but with regular coaching my proficiency slowly improved in free-style and also in the other competitive strokes of backstroke, breast-stroke and butterfly. Although I was making great progress for someone for whom swimming came late in life I wanted to increase proficiency, speed and intensity of my workout.

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

Since I started swimming again two years ago I am fitter, have lost 15kg, feel healthier and look better. At secondary school I participated in a large amount of sport including athletics, swimming and football. Since that time with a full time job, marriage and a family of two children I thought that I would never have time to keep fit. As a result of training with the Orcas I am as fit now as I was at age 30 and I find I have more time and energy to live life to the fullest with my family and friends. When I first started swimming at the club it was with the idea of just swimming for fitness but the friendliness of the men and women in the club is such that I would never miss one of their regular social events and I am a frequent competitor in pool-based and open-water swimming competitions.

Greg Palmer

Treasurer

I had been a regular lap swimmer at the Nunawading Pool and was interested in participating in an evening squad to improve my technique and fitness.

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

I have learned to swim when I was about 20 years old and decided to join the triathlon club at Melbourne Uni ( A Decision made on a couch while watching Wide World of Sports!). Being totally out of breath after two laps of 25m pool was not a good start. I knew I needed to improve my fitness and technique. Over many years with practice I have built on my efforts and accumulated a treasure trove of bad habits and incorrect swimming techniques.

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

Brendan has been involved in competitive swimming since 2000 and has coached since 2006.
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.

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