Blacktown City Masters Swimming Club
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
Blacktown Masters Swimming Club have been around for a long time ; they have become a staple in the sporting landscape of Blacktown since starting in 1979 . They are currently in their 45 th year .
The club kicked off five years after Masters Swimming Australia launched back in 1974 , and it started when a group of friends who were enthusiastic swimmers started up the club . They are based at Blacktown Swimming Pool which is located at Boyd St in Blacktown and have been there since their inception .
Mark McDonald , vice president of Masters Swimming in NSW , said the club cater for adult swimmers of a range of abilities . They have world and national record holders , but also cater for adults
Blacktown Masters Swimming Club all geared up for competition . who are able to swim competently , at least 50m , and just want a group to train with .
They train at Blacktown Swimming Pool every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6:00-7:30pm . The club offer potential new members up to six free sessions , so anyone who is interested can get down to the pool for a trial and see if it is for them . Mark McDonald joined Blacktown in 2009 , and it has kept his love of swimming and sport alive ; some of his closest , lifelong friends are from the club . They swim together and travel together . He has been lucky to swim in every state and territory ( except for South Australia ) and through Masters he has had the opportunity to travel and see our beautiful country . Mark admits he ’ s not the fastest swimmer , but is constantly encouraged and motivated to keep pushing himself to achieve personal bests . The club is currently the 4 th largest in NSW with 82 members . They cater for competitive and casual swimmers and have several competitors on the world stage representing the club . Mark likes to see swimmers there for fun , fitness and friendship and there is a focus on the social element and not just competitive swimming . They want to continue promoting adult engagement in sport , and swimming in particular ; Mark said they really are one big family .
The club have picked up a
range of notable achievements in the last few years including in 2023 MSNSW the club with the highest percentage membership increase , which in 2024 has increased by another 20 members , 2023 MSNSW club with the highest percentage score increase , the visitor ’ s trophy at both the 2024 and 2023 Masters Swimming Australia National Championships .
This year was in Darwin , where they had a team of 25 swimmers and Masters Swimming NSW Club of the Year for both 2023 and 2022 . This is an award that acknowledges the successes of the club and the contributions of the club to Masters Swimming in NSW .
They have several swimmers and world record holders as well , including Clary Munns who was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame class of 2024 ( only the 4th Australian swimmer to be inducted ). Clary has been a member with Blacktown Masters Swimming Club since 1988 and in 2024 set three world records in the 80-84 year age group . She currently has 33 world records which is unbelievable !
Aaron Cleland , a club member since 2017 and has been club coach for many of those years . In 2024 , Aaron has set 14 national records in the 50-54 year age group and a further 11 NSW records . Aaron competed in his first World Aquatics Masters Swimming Championships in 2023 in Kyushu , Japan , and brought home two bronze medals , as well as additional
Blacktown Masters Swimming Club win the three-peat in NSW .
4th and 7th placings . For anyone who would like to join the club , membership fees are $ 165 for the year in 2025 and over 80s can join for $ 85 . If you would like to join you can contact the club via : email : blacktownmastersswimming @ gmail . com .
Visit www . blacktownmasters . com , www . facebook . com / blacktownbeavers or www . instagram . com / blacktownmasters
Sydney Thunder WBBL smashing their way to the top
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
The cricket season is in full swing and Sydney Thunder ’ s WBBL team have come out with all guns blazing in the 2024 WBBL season . Led by 21-year-old left-handed batting sensation Phoebe Litchfield , the Thunder set about trying to overcome the hurdle of last season going down to the Brisbane Heat in the semi-finals .
The Thunder were always looking good with the signing of Chamari Athapaththu from the Sri Lankan women ’ s international team , Heather Knight , who plays for the English women ’ s cricket team and has an OBE for her outstanding dedication and service to cricket . Also , Lauren Bell , who has also played for the English women ’ s team and Marizanne Kapp who is in the South African women ’ s international team . Plus , a host of local talent including Australian all-rounder Hannah Darlington ,
Phoebe Litchfield smashes the ball . Credit : Cricket Australia .
22 , who like Litchfield is a western Sydney local from Erskine Park and is a member of the Kamilaroi people . Hannah completed her HSC at Westfields Sports High School and has been a standout in the competition since her debut seven years ago as a 15-year-old .
The Thunder started off their spring challenge against the Brisbane Heat who inflicted the blow on them that eliminated the Thunder from last season ’ s finals . It was a good day out for Athapaththu who played herself into form with a quick fire 41 off 40 balls with 6 x 4s and 1 x 6
In the 3 rd spring challenge match the Thunder showed they were contenders with Tahlia Wilson smashing 81 off 57 balls with 10 x 4s and 1 x 6- and 22-year-old Anika Learoyd blasting 60 off 37 with an innings of note including 1 x 4 and 5 x 6s .
In the Thunder ’ s first home game of the
WBBL season they despatched Hobart in fine style with Heather Knight smashing a solid 48 off 28 balls with 7 x 4s and 1 x 6 . Hannah Darlington picked up 3 / 16 off her 4 overs . In the following home game at North Sydney Oval the Thunder finished with 5 / 212 from their 20 overs and Georgia Voll had a field day with the bat scoring 92 off 55 balls and picking up 12 x 4s
Hannah Darlington tearing in with the ball . Credit : Getty Images .
and 3 x 6s . This batting performance by Voll laid the groundwork for the Thunder to rout Adelaide Strikers for 148 with Samantha Bates picking up 4 / 21 and Shabnim Ismail taking 3 / 18 .
This set the Thunder on a run of four consecutive wins that saw them climb the ladder and make a serious crack at the minor premiership with a 19-run win against fierce rivals the Brisbane Heat . The latter have had the wood over the Thunder with Phoebe Litchfield adding a brilliant captain ’ s knock of 40 off 25 balls including 7 x 4s , and Heather Knight slashing a valuable 59 off 34 balls including 10 x 4s .
Bates picked up another 4 / 25 to ensure victory over the Heat . The Thunder finished their 4-match unbeaten streak with a win over local rivals Sydney Sixers , with Knight grabbing another 50 and Bates took 3 / 20 .
They helped cement their finals position with an away win against Perth Scorchers , with Georgia Voll going oh so close to her century with 97 not out off 56 balls including 13 x 4s and 1 x 6 . Another solid win against Melbourne Stars which saw Hannah Darlington take 3 / 26 , all but sealed a finals place for the Thunder .
The rain outs were starting to hurt the results on the run in to the finals , and a second last over win against the Hobart Hurricanes saw captain Phoebe Litchfield stand up and be counted with 46 off 36 balls .
Unfortunately , it was a case of so close yet so far in the final with a 9-wicket loss to the Heat again , despite Hannah Darlington getting 40 off 29 balls . You can absolutely guarantee that you will hear the thunder coming again in 2025 .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ISSUE 46 // JANUARY 2025 21