"In September 1923 the first meeting took place comprising of leading local swimmers Harry Cremer, Roy Fern and Jim Smith for the formation of a Swimming Club to promote swimming not only as a recreational activity but also on a competition level. Swimming lessons for the young, together with coaching and training for the more experienced commenced and it was decided to hold a carnival at the end of the year. The majority of the Clubs swimmers and members were also affiliated with either the Jetty or Park Beach Surf Club.
The community pulled together to build Male and Female dressing sheds, and a starting and finishing platforms. Coffs Harbour Swimming Club’s first carnival was held in the Coffs Saltwater Creek on Monday, 31 December 1923 in the presence of over 300 people. Swimming club became enormously popular within the community due to the proximity to the local settlement and being privileged with a natural harbour, beaches and a clean deep-water creek. Coffs Harbour swim club continued to host regular formal and informal swim meets in this location over the next 40 years.
The Saltwater creek baths presented swimmers with challenges; the facility its self-underwent many repairs after severe weather conditions damaged them and the swimmers would have to contend with risking oyster cuts on their feet when tumble Turing and swimming through the milk overflow dumped in the creek by the butter factory.
Coffs Harbour Swimming club became a part of Mid North Coast Amateur swimming association in 1959.
At the conclusion of WW2 a fundraising committee was established to gain finances to build an Olympic sized pool. After many years of saving, door to door canvassing, fundraising and a donation from the Coffs Harbour Ex services club the pool was built and opened in 1969 at which point the club relocated, to the Coffs Harbour war memorial pool. This pool Coffs Harbour swim club still calls home today.
The council operated the pool from 1969 - 1980 and was then taken over under lease by John and Cheryl Neville from 1980 - 2004, who were very supportive and active within the swim club and parents of Adam Neville, an amazing young man who unfortunately passed to soon, Adam still holds a number of club records, some as old as 41 years, the club remembers Adam with a Memorial award in his honour, awarded to the highest achieving club member each year.
In 2010 the Coffs Harbour war memorial pool underwent significant upgrades, of which $750,000 was donated by Coffs Harbour Swim club life member Barbara Hogbin. Barbara was one of a few dedicated instructors who passionately taught 1000s of children to swim in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Lessons were initially for free, eventually payment was required and a small learn to swim pool was constructed. Once children had finished learning to swim, they were encouraged to join the swim club.
Over the years our club has been blessed with many amazing persons providing exceptional contributions to our club, including life members Barbara Hogbin, Jenni Bailey, Colleen Gill, Mavis Owen, Allan Newman, Richard Lloyd, Helen Phipps and Jim Phipps. We sincerely thank them and everyone else who has helped the club in any way over the years without you, our club wouldn’t be where it is today.
Today's swimmers take inspiration from former Coffs Harbour swim club members Olympian Maddie Gough, Para Olympian Maddie McTernan, 2023 World Dwarf Games Medallist Anna Sydenham. In 2023 Coffs Harbour swim club proudly supported many swimmers to great success from junior state medallists, 11 swimmers who competed at the Australian Age and MC championships (with 5 making finals), and S19 Para swimmer Amelia Moore whom travelled to France to compete in the Virtus global games bringing home a swag of medals.
100 years on from the first carnival, Coffs Harbour swimming club continues to aim to encourage and support families to build relationships, develop skills and promote positive habits while providing support and motivation to all swimmers, whether they are able bodied or para swimmers, from our beginners through to our National representatives, giving them a platform to reach their full potential and goals."
