Peter Johnston has been presented with a Lifetime Service Award at the Australian Not-For-Profit Technology Awards.

Peter received the award for his technology-related service to Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club.  Peter has been providing his services since the mid 1990s and continuously adapts and finds ways to enhance accessibility to members of the club and wider community.

There are so many examples of Peter's contributions and just some of the things he does include developing the club's website in 1999, developing a new membership system and results database, producing the club's 40th Anniversary DVD, implementing electronic timing and online entries, obtaining sponsorship for IT products, implementing an online store, acting as Metro South West webmaster, creating databases for managing qualifications and enrolments, Dive-In Movie pre-show advertisements and videos, implementing Teams for remotely coaching swimmers at international events, live streaming of training sessions, automation of results and organising virtual committee meetings.

Peter volunteers so much of his time behind the scenes to provide these services to our club.

Thank you for all you do Peter!

See Also

• Connecting Up
• Annual tech awards highlight NFP innovation amid COVID chaos

Merrylands has a team of 5 swimming at the NSW State Masters Short Course Championships. The championships are being held at Peninsula Leisure Centre, Woy Woy over the 12th and 13th October, 2019.

The team of 5 are competing in 23 events across the weekend. Good luck to Peter, Brendan, Kylee, Alison and Leanne.

The club is also being represented by 3 swimmers at the Swimming NSW Junior Area Representative Meet at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday.

Niushka, Summer and Matt are part of the Metro South West Area team and have been selected in 15 individual events and 3 relays between them.

Good luck to both teams. We know you will make us proud!

Merrylands' team took home 8 medals from the NSW State Masters Long Distance Championships on Sunday.

The club finished with 6 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze.

Congratulations to Ian Wilson, Brendan Kirkpatrick, Peter Johnston and Alison Sakurovs on their swims.

Merrylands will be represented by 4 swimmers at the NSW State Masters Long Distance Championships at the Knox Grammar School Aquatic Centre on Sunday, 8th September.

Ian Wilson, Brendan Kirkpatrick, Peter Johnston and Alison Sakurovs will compete at the meet in 2 events each.

We wish them the best of luck at the meet.

Merrylands will be represented by a team of 6 swimmers at the NSW State Masters Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre this weekend.

Our team consists of:

Alison Johnston
Tricia Johnston
Peter Johnston
Kylee Murray
Steven Nguyen
Ben Taylor

Good luck to our swimmers at the meet.

You can follow their progress over the weekend on the Live Results page.

See Also

• 2019 NSW State Masters Championships
• 2019 NSW State Masters Championships - Live Results

Merrylands Swim Centre and Merrylands Amateur Swim Club (ASC) are turning 50 and to celebrate Cumberland Council and Merrylands ASC are hosting a breakfast and pool party on Saturday 10 November.

Mayor Greg Cummings said that for 50 years the Merrylands Swim Centre has been a cornerstone of the Cumberland community, where generations of locals have grown up learning to swim, competing in carnivals and cooling off from the summer heat.

“Fifty years is a huge milestone for the swim centre, the swim club and the entire community. Since its opening in 1968, thousands of Cumberland residents have come through the doors of Merrylands Swim Centre to enjoy the facilities,” Mayor Cummings said.

“As one of five pools in Cumberland, Merrylands Swim Centre forms part of the Merrylands Park Regional Sporting Centre and boasts an eight lane 50 metre competition pool, a training pool and a baby pool. Now that summer is here it’s the perfect time to get your togs out and go for a swim; Cumberland pools are open all summer long.

“All Cumberland residents are invited to join with current and former swim club members for the special anniversary event which will include club races, novelty events, pool inflatables, as well as a community breakfast. The event is free but regular pool entry costs apply.”

President of the Merrylands ASC and ASC member for more than 35 years, Graham Edwards believes that local swim centres such as Merrylands Swim Centre play a key role within the local community bringing together children, families and adults.

“As the local population continues to grow and age, the local swim centres are an essential community facility as they provide a range of activities, be that socially, educationally, recreationally and competitively,” Mr Edwards said.

“Swimming is a sport you can do all year round for your entire life, no matter what walk of life you come from. As a swim club we all enjoy and celebrate the successes of our members of all levels. New members are always welcome and we have swim programs for toddlers, children and adults.

“Any swimmer, young or old who can swim at least 15 metres can join in the races and registrations can be made online. We’re inviting everyone join us to help celebrate this milestone, find out what our club is about and have a fun time in the pool.”

• What: Merrylands Swim Centre and Amateur Swim Club 50 year celebration
• When: Saturday 10 November from 7am
• Where: Merrylands Swim Centre, 17 Burnett Street, Merrylands
• RSVP: Direct to the Swim Club via www.merrylandsasc.asn.au/50thanniversary/

Back row - Reece Tomkinson (Coach), Peter Johnston (Head Club Coach), Mayor Greg Cummings.
Front row - Alison Johnston (Coach), Helen Macpherson, Summer Shrestha, Charlie-Rose El Riachi

COMPETING in 10 events, Alison Johnston returned from last month's Masters Swimming Australia National Championships in Perth with 10 medals.

Swimming under her maiden name of Sakurovs, the Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club member picked up four gold and six silver, giving her in the highest point score for her age group.

It was her seventh time competing at the masters nationals but her first gold medal and she credits her strong performance to the birth of her son four years ago.

"I've been swimming almost all my life, since I was five years old," she said.

"I've always swum but more plodding along.

"That's picked up in the past few years, strangely I am faster now since I had my son William.

"He's definitely keeping me fit."

However she admits with a laugh that it doesn't hurt that her husband Peter is an award winning coach for the club, named the Masters NSW Coach of the Year for 2017, a title he also won in 2013.

"We are very professional in the water but at home we probably talk about swimming way too much over the dinner table," she said.

A member of the Merrylands Club for the past eight years, she says swimming is good for any age from babies to adults, with masters events for age categories from 18 and upward.

"They don't stop," she said.

"Swimming is easy on your joints and good for your lungs; it's good for any age."

Making a formidable team both in and out of the water, Peter and Alison Johnston from the Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club picked 11 medals between them at the Australian Masters Championships in Perth last month. Alison collected 10 medals, Peter won a bronze, and two other swimmers from the club, Ian and Tricia Johnston, also swam new personal bests at the event.

Source: http://www.localnewsplus.com.au/story?ID=137276&stories=stories&publication=Review&section=Sport

After 4 huge days of competition at the Australian Masters Championships in Perth over the past week, Merrylands' team has finished the meet with 11 medals, 5 new personal best times and 14 season best times.

Alison Johnston took home 10 medals from the meet - 4 Gold and 6 Silver. Her gold medals are her first at a National level. The highlight of the meet for Alison though was undoubtably her gold medal in the 50m Freestyle - her final event of the championships. Alison had been working for the gold in this event for the past 3 years and it all came together this year. Putting aside the distraction of being in the same heat as her husband, and the fatigue from the previous 3 days of competition, Alison posted a time just outside her PB to take the gold and finish with the 3rd fastest female time overall. (For the record, Peter touched just 0.22 in front).

Peter won the club's 11th medal at the meet, with Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke, and season best times in all 12 of his events.

Ian Johnston had an excellent meet, swimming 4 new personal best times from his 9 events. Ian took 2 seconds off his 50m Backstroke, 5 seconds off his 100m Backstroke, 12 seconds off his 200m Backstroke and 1.5 seconds off his 50m Butterfly. Ian also swam 4 new season best times.

Our final swimmer, Tricia Johnston, gradually warmed-up up as the meet progressed, with a Freestyle swim in the relay on Day 3 just outside her personal best. She followed this up on Day 4 with a big 1.5 second PB in the 50m Freestyle.

To top it all off, at the Presentation Dinner, Peter was named as the 2017 Masters Swimming Australia Coach of the Year.

Medallists

Personal Best Times

Medal Tally

Congratulations to our team on their results!

See Also

• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 1
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 2
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 3
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 4
• 2017 Australian Masters Coach of the Year
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Live Results
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships

Peter Johnston was announced as the 2017 Masters Swimming Australia Coach of the Year Award at the Masters Swimming Australia Presentation Dinner in Perth last night.

The award follows the announcement of Peter as the 2017 Masters Swimming NSW Coach of the Year at the State Championships in March.

Peter has been recognised for his work in the club's various adult programs, ranging from those learning to swim, through to those swimming for fitness or competing at levels right up to FINA World Masters Championships.

This is the second time that Peter has been recognised with the Masters Swimming Australia Coach of the Year Award, having won it in 2013 as well.

Congratulations Peter!

See Also

• Masters Swimming Australia Coach Profile - Peter Johnston
• Masters Swimming Australia - Year of the Coach

The final day of the Nationals saw Merrylands win another 2 medals, swim 2 new personal best times and 5 season best times.

Alison Johnston finished the meet with another 2 medals, starting the day with Silver in the 200m Individual Medley and then taking Gold in the 50m Freestyle.

Tricia Johnston swam a huge personal best time in her 50m Freestyle, taking 1.5 seconds off her previous best in a fantastic swim.

Ian Johnston took a massive 5 seconds off his time in the 100m Backstroke to set a new personal best time. He also swam his 2nd fastest 50m Freestyle time ever, which was also his fastest time since 2015.

Peter Johnston swam season best times in his 3 events - 200m Individual Medley, 50m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke.

Congratulations to our whole team on their performances at the meet.

See Also

• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 1
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 2
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Day 3
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships - Live Results
• 2018 Australian Masters Championships