VALE, Neil Lee Long. Atherton Swimming Club Inc was sad to lose Club Life Member and former Atherton pool lessee of 20 years Neil Lee Long in September, 2009. Mr Lee Long is pictured here on his last outing with the club, at our Australia Day Carnival in January 2009. He is pictured here with Platypus clubbies Carly, Stephanie, Jordan, Chelsea, Lucas, Luca, and Aleysha.

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. 2009 marks the 50 years Golden Milestone for the pool. (The Platypus club is in fact older than the pool itself, with the 2009-10 season marking 75 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 Guy will return as Atherton Swimming Club Inc head coach for the 2009-10 season. Penny (nee Soper) was an outstanding schoolgirl swimmer with the Atherton Platypus team and still swims national gold medal times with Aussi Masters’ swimming. Husband Hamish Guy is a former international cyclist. Many of his junior cycle stars cross train in club swimming squads.

In the swim at club squads with Atherton Platypus club, 2009

Club nights are held on Fridays from 6pm (racing starts at 6.30pm). Club parents meet on the fourth Thursday of the month, 7pm at the pool for supper and to sort out club business.

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 programme on the Saturday and the crowd pleasing SKINS elimination sprint races and Dash For Cash events on the Sunday. (Mark your diary, Atherton Carnival , Jan 22-24, 2010)

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 the Mareeba club will host the Shield night on Friday March 5, 2010.

New members are always welcome. Membership for the year is $85/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 2009-2010 Club Calendar
• Download club membership form

KEY CONTACTS 2009-10 SEASON:

Club parent volunteers for the 2009-10 season: