Winter training in Atherton

Atherton Swimming Club Inc has a long and proud involvement with swimming in Far North Queensland. It was established in 1932 by a group of enthusiastic and forward thinking people. Training and competitions were then conducted in the natural surroundings of Platypus Park, which hosts Atherton’s historical Chinatown tourist attraction. You can see evidence of the old baths where timber slats still line sections of the creek bank.

Now based at the council-owned Atherton Pool in Robert Street, the Club enjoys first rate facilities. At the time the amazing engineering feat of Tinaroo Dam was being constructed, a forward thinking Atherton Shire Council negotiated for cement for a local pool. The Platypus club is in fact older than the pool itself, with the 201-12 season marking 77 years since the club first met at Platypus Park.

Atherton Pool is now an active and community-friendly hub, with an outdoor heated 50m pool, an indoor heated 25m pool, a children’s wading area and a kiosk with friendly staff and excellent coffee, run by a business called ``Swim Logic’’. Due to popular demand, business owner and pool lessee Penny Soper will return as Atherton Swimming Club Inc head coach for the 2010-11 season. Penny was an outstanding schoolgirl swimmer with the Atherton Platypus team and still swims national gold medal times with Atherton Mountaineers Masters’ swimming.

In the swim at club squads with Atherton Platypus club, 2010

Club nights are held on Fridays from 6pm (racing starts at 6.30pm). Club parents meet on the first Monday of the month.

Atherton’s traditional `Australia Day weekend’ carnival is a highlight of the FNQ swimming calendar. Long distance swims are held on the Friday night, with a full competitive swim program on the Saturday. This year’s carnival dates are Jan 20-22 2012.

Atherton is an enthusiastic competitor at Borzi Shield night, a Tablelands inter-club challenge held the FRIDAY after the annual FNQRSA Long Course Championships. This season Atherton club will once again host the Shield night on Friday March 16, 2012.

New members are always welcome. Membership for the year is $95/swimmer (cheaper for families of three swimmers or more and for first time club swimmers progressing from Learn to Swim.) The Club’s postal address is PO Box 303 Atherton Q 4883.

• Download club membership form

Club parent volunteers for the 2011-12 season: