Presidents Autumn Prattle

There’s no denying the prattle office has been in recess for several months. The reasons for this are not only global warming, Trump tariffs and writer’s block but also that Autumn is boring and unnewsworthy. Conversation generally focusses on topics such as perfect swimming conditions, dolphins playing and swimmers breaking national records, to name a few. It’s therefore understandable that excitement amongst members sunk to a new low during autumn, especially once the WhatsApp fun ban was implemented. In their quest for excitement, members resorted to alternatives such as the egg-pinching raven, Kath’s bookstall and Bill Whalley jokes.

Finally, winter has arrived, the ocean’s rough, swimmers are shivering, the MARC boom is broken again – we’re excited, it’s all newsworthy. Although, during the prattle drought some important events have passed unreported and here’s a summary of them.

Annual General Meeting - 20 Feb

The AGM was the excitement highlight of the period so far and proficiently co-ordinated by the outgoing secretary. To legitimise the formality of the meeting, Des raised an official motion to which all members voted in favour of to hurry things along. Although the President and Captain bumbled their way through the award presentations (and the loyal members pretended not to notice) it was finally over for another year and pizzas quickly became the focus. Here are some special mentions from the AGM -

The 2025 Committee

President Ross Doherty

Director of Coaching Des Seery

Vice President Kath Sheehan

Recorder Karen Sims

Treasurer Caroline Rainsford

Registrar Jen Crake

Secretary Bec Powell

Safety Officer Greg Cockram

Club Captain Alex Shorter

Committee Member Deborah Bloor

Club Records

Alyce Hau - 25m Butterfly

Jennifer Smith - 25m Breaststroke

Alex Shorter - 200m Backstroke

Karen Sims - 50m & 100m Breaststroke + 50m Butterfly

Gerda Williams - 50m Freestyle, 50m, 100m & 200m Backstroke

John Cahill - 100m Backstroke

Jeff Rimmer - 50m Freestyle

Michael Bennett - 25m Freestyle & 50m Butterfly

State Records

Gerda Williams - 400m Backstroke (Short Course)

Gerda Williams - 150m Backstroke (Short Course)

National Record - 200m Medley Relay

Jannie Thomson

Gerda Williams

Pauline Wingate

Jennifer Crake

2024/2025 Club Award Winners

Kathy McLeod Award - Narelle Gilmore

Fitness, Friendship and Fun - Sue Giles

Club Challenge Awards - Mike Bennett, Gerda Williams

Coaches Award - Gerda Williams

FINA Top Swim Award - Gerda Williams

Open Water Swim Award - Karen Sims, Wayne Cable

Salty Award - Libby Vickery

Congratulations to record breakers and award winners

Busselton Jetty Swim Finisher Towels finally available for pickup.

The only award most of us will ever receive from the Busselton Jetty Swim committee is the ‘Finisher Towel’. Because, in 2025, the towels were not available on the day of the Swim, ‘when do we get our Busso towels and where from?’ became a common autumn conversation starter. In fact, it was one of the most discussed WhatsApp issues of the year to date.

Rottnest Channel Swim

In case you hadn’t heard, Gary Bowden was finally able to run across the Rottnest finish line, obviously happy with his achievement after two years of solid training and a disappointing 2024. Although we’ve congratulated Gary lots and agreed on how huge an achievement it was – here’s the encore – Congratulations Gary, you are now a part of club folklore.

Other ‘Rotto’ competitors included the Super Team of Sue Johnston, Steve Ferguson, Guy Boyce and Barb Pellick as ’Just for Fun Take 2’. (They made it and most had fun!).

Bunning’s Sausage Sizzle

No doubt about it, this well-supported fund raiser gets a lot of WhatsApp airplay. While ‘one with onions’ can be a real supply/demand challenge, the day is generally an enjoyable team building experience. Special mention to Greg for coordinating and the oversupply of volunteers for ‘doing it for the club’.

MSWA Mullaloo MileM

Four boys travelled to Mullaloo for the last long WOW swim of the season. Note the results - they’re all placegetters, what champions!

1.6km MSWA State Championship Kirk Bamford - 2nd place (75-79)

3.2km Challenge Joel Lewis – 1st place (55-64), Ross Doherty – 2nd place (65–74), Wayne Cable – 3rd place (65-74)

2025 Port to Pub

Following the 2024 success of the Wicked Nanas, an obvious progression for Karen was to train for a solo crossing in 2025. Not satisfied with the standard 20km challenge, she took on the ultimate Port to Pub 25km ultramarathon. It all came together on the day and Karen made club history by becoming the first Manna to ring the bell. Great, great effort Karen!

The amazing Pauline smashes another National Record At the Fremantle ABC Carnival in April, Pauline achieved another national record in breaststroke. Congratulations Pauline!

Mandurah Mannas finished 4th of 22 clubs, with several PBs and club records achieved. Well done to all who participated.

Hooray, they’ve finally arrived!

Albany Harbour Swim

The (Easter) Albany Harbour Swim had its usual challenges. Karen, Wayne and Ross joined a record field of 199 swimmers to tackle the 4km course from Princess Royal Sailing Club to Anzac Peace Park. Although the choppy conditions were a concern on the morning, it was the water temperature that had swimmers worried in preceding weeks. Surprisingly, it remained bearably constant for most of the journey until, at about 3.5km, it plummeted (from 19° to 15°) and remained constant until the finish (Wayne’s post swim report). Karen recorded a typically fast ‘Karen’ time. Wayne and Ross?… they made it! Post swim celebrations were brief – warm coat, shaky Baileys egg and long hot shower.

The Albany Harbour Swim is a great reason to spend Easter in Albany. Think about joining a team of Mannas in Albany in 2026 for a challenging swim and fun time.

State Champs

She’s done it again! At the recent Masters State Championship, Pauline again starred with three individual national records and two relay state records. Congratulations Pauline, what a great achievement! Gerda also had a great meet and finished first in her age group. Congratulations to both swimmers. Overall, the club finished 11th of 25 clubs and achieved ‘Top Country Club’ for the second year running. Well done to all who participated.

Dolphins violate exclusion zone.

A dolphin exclusion zone is an area designated to restrict dolphins from approaching humans, to protect humans from harassment and disturbance of their natural behaviours. It usually involves a no-approach distance of at least fifty meters. At Doddi’s Beach, dolphins constantly violate this regulation. For example, on Saturday 14 June a pod of dolphins surfed, hunted and played within the Mannas’ swim zone for the duration of the swim session. Between sets of waves, they continually stalked and harassed our swimmers. In an act of ultimate defiance, the arrogant pod almost corralled our last remaining swimmers, Bev and Wayne, to interact and

communicate - illegally!! Ironically, our brave swimmers were not offended and approached the situation in their own way. Wayne had binged enough episodes of ‘Flipper’ as a child to be comfortable in their presence. Bev, who later claimed, “they were talking to us” and who is known to enjoy a lively conversation, attempted verbal negotiation. Eventually, the pod conceded they’d met their match and moved on.

It was a great spectacle for the observers and a memorable experience for Bev and Wayne. (One for the grandkids - or puppies, or neighbours?)

A WARNING TO ALL SWIMMERS - if you choose to swim at Doddi’s Beach you may experience dolphin harassment!

Upcoming Events

2025 Riverton Club Challenge Meet

Riverton Leisureplex - July 20 – 12pm to 4pm

This meet is a traditional Masters Swimming carnival and includes 15 events – Swimmers can participate in a maximum of 3 individuals from a choice of 13; and in an appropriate relay(Men’s or Women’s). No more than one 200m and one 100m individual event.

2025 Golden Groper State Relay Carnival

HBF Stadium - July 26 - 10:30 am to 2:00 pm

Race alongside swimmers from across the state in 4x50m and 4x25m relays for men’s, women’s, and mixed teams.

Mandurah is usually well represented in this event - one of the fun events of the season.

Reminder

To all regular Doddi’s Beach swimmers – please nominate for the July spotter roster.