Issue 12, 2025/2026 by Matthew Vicic - 19th December, 2025

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Saturday Races – Christmas Week

As we dive into the last week of club races before the Christmas break, we’d like to wish all our Whales and their families a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy holiday season! This week also features the 800m Freestyle Championship, so please arrive early to help us set up quickly — the faster we’re ready, the sooner we can get racing! If you’d like to lend a hand but aren’t sure how, don’t be shy — there are plenty of friendly faces poolside happy to guide and teach. After races (and before breakfast), stick around for our Christmas novelty races, complete with a fun surprise from two special guests…👀 Who could they be?

After novelty races there will also be a Christmas barbeque with the annual Christmas raffle, and more!

Club races return on Saturday 3^rd January 2026.

Coach’s Corner

“You don’t just PB at meets”

We’ve certainly been kicking goals this half of the 2025/26 season! To finish the year, our swimmers completed a 200m kick time trial to measure improvements across the season, and the results speak for themselves.

Since April, our Development and Age Squads have taken a combined 4 minutes and 21 seconds off their kick times, an average improvement of 29 seconds per swimmer! 💪

Our Masters team, Leanne, Varant and Kylee, also debunked the myth that master's don’t kick, shaving a combined 2 minutes off their times. Outstanding effort!

Our final sessions were packed with fun and variety. The morning squad tackled a mixed bag of form strokes (with a catch…there’s always a catch!), while our afternoon Novice and Junior squads came together for relays, creating some great energy and friendly competition across the groups.

We wrapped things up with our annual 12 Sets of Christmas, complete with some truly memorable singing — especially during “five buuuuubbbllleeee riiiinnngggss!” 🎄🎶

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in 2026!

NSW Senior State Age Championships – Results Update

Merrylands continued its strong presence at the NSW Senior State Age Championships.

Jay Shrestha proudly represented the club in the 12–14 years Boys 50m Breaststroke, delivering a fabulous swim. Jay not only improved on his time from the NSW Junior Metropolitan Championships just two weeks ago, but also took a full second off his personal best to record his first-ever sub-40 second swim, stopping the clock at a blistering 39.07. He finished 12th overall in the 12-year-old age group, an outstanding result at this level of competition.

This marks Jay’s first qualification for a Senior State Age Championship, and we are incredibly proud of the progress he has made over the past 12 months. His hard work, consistency, and determination are clearly paying off.

Earlier in the meet, Coralie Havea kicked off Merrylands’ campaign with a strong swim in the 50m Freestyle, recording her third-fastest time ever and finishing 29th in the 12-year-old girls age group. Competing at this level for the first time has provided invaluable experience that will support her future development.

Congratulations to both swimmers on representing the club with pride, we look forward to watching their continued growth in the pool. 🐋💙

Unfortunately our 3^rd member to qualify, Leo Zhu, was injured and unable to swim at the meet. We look forward to celebrating your achievements at next year’s meet Leo.

Training Break – Enrolment Hold Reminder

Do you need to put your training enrolment on hold? If you are going to miss a full calendar month of training, you can place your enrolment on hold for that month. To do this, you must submit the Training Break form by the last day of the previous month.

📌 Important Notice for January 2026:
 To place your enrolment on hold for January, the form must be completed by 20^th December. If the form is not submitted by this date, training fees will still be charged for the month.

🔗 Training Break Form: https://merrylandsasc.asn.au/coaching/missedsessions.aspx

Please note that this option applies only when missing a full calendar month of training.

Joke of the Year!

Q: Why did the whale get kicked off Santa’s swim team?

A: Because every time it did a turn, it made a whale-sized splash and soaked the reindeer! 🐳🎅🎄

Swimmer Spotlight – Anna Johnston

This week we shine the spotlight on one of our young Whales, Anna Johnston, who has grown up swimming with the club and continues to make great progress both in and out of the pool. 

Q1:Tell us about your swimming journey

A: I did Learn to Swim with Merrylands Club on Saturdays and the Blacktown Council program. I first started club races when I was 2 years old doing the 15m races (with lots of floaties on!). I was excited, especially having my granddad and dad help me. I progressed to 25m races when I got to kindergarten, then joined mini squads last season when I was 8 years old. For my school swimming carnival, I made it to Regional for 50m freestyle!

Q2: What’s your favourite stroke?

A: Breaststroke! It’s easy and relaxing for me. My least favourite stroke is backstroke — I don’t like the sun in my eyes and banging into the lane rope.

Q3: What do you like about the Club?

A: The sausage sizzles! I like to swim and hang out with the people, especially playing gymnastics and handball.

Q4: What’s your best swimming achievement so far?

A: This year, I was awarded Age Champion for swimming at my school.

Q5: What’s your swimming goal for next year?

A: I want to do 50m butterfly! I’m still working on getting past 25m butterfly.

Q6: Something interesting about you

A: I am good at doing my own and other people’s hairstyles, like braiding. I love art, particularly drawing, sports, dancing, soccer and athletics. Academics-wise, I like Maths because I like writing on the whiteboard.

Q7: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A hairdresser or an Olympian for swimming or the 100m sprint.

Tune in next week to see who makes the spotlight next! It could be YOU!

Merrylands SwimFest:

The Merrylands SwimFest will be held on Saturday 21^st February 2026 and we are already planning for the meet.

Entries for SwimFest are now open in SwimCentral. Merrylands members can use the special member button for discounted entry fees.

Club WhatsApp Group Chat

We have an informal Club WhatsApp group for members who’d like to stay connected socially. It’s a great space for general chit chat, sharing our kids’ achievements, photos, lost property, and helping organise school holiday activities.

If you’d like to join the group, please let the Social Committee know, Sylvia, Denise or Kylee will be happy to add you.

Please note: All official club communications will continue to be shared via email, Whales Tales, and the club website.

January School Holiday Activities

Looking for something fun to do these January school holidays? We’ve got a couple of great options for our Whales and families:

Raging Waters – Saturday 10th January (after club races)

Join the club for a day out at Raging Waters after Saturday morning races. We can access discounted tickets for $45 per person (a saving of $30!). To organise tickets, please contact Sylvia.

Diving Clinic at SOPAC

SOPAC is running Diving Clinics during the holidays. A few Junior Squad members are attending the Intermediate class on Monday 12^th January at 10:30am, and there are a few spots still available for that session. Other dates and classes are available too.

More info and bookings: https://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/diving-clinic

Donations

Our partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation allows supporters to make tax-deductible donations to the club. Funds raised help us upgrade and maintain our equipment and systems, providing better facilities for you, our members.

We appreciate the great support our members have provided since the partnership commenced. Donations can be made here.

Club Merrylands Christmas Events

At Club Merrylands

Seafood voucher Raffle -Monday 22^nd December from 7.30pm (tickets on sale at 5.30pm)

At Guildford Bowling Club

Ham and Seafood voucher Raffle - Saturday 20^th December from 7pm (tickets on sale at 5pm)

Lions Club Award

Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping? Nominate them for the Lions Club Award, our peak award to recognise our volunteers over the season.

Nominate a volunteer

P-Plate Award

As the season rolls along keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake. We like to recognise and reward all efforts during the season, and the P-Plate award is the perfect way to do this.

Nominate a silly mistake

Seen a Problem? Get it Fixed

If you see something that needs fixing you can elevate this directly with Council by logging the issue here.

Club Uniforms

Need uniforms for SwimFest? Our club uniforms in stock are available for purchase through the club’s online shop club shop . Some items may require a special order to be placed with our suppliers, so planning orders ahead of time will allow for the items to be delivered. 

Upcoming Meet Calendar

Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.