Swimming NSW is today mourning the loss of Swimming NSW Life Member Patrick ‘Pat’ Troy. We extend our deepest sympathies to Pat’s family and friends at this time.
Pat devoted much of his life to the sport of swimming and had been involved in some capacity for over 40 years as he willingly served as a volunteer and technical official at all levels of the sport.
Pat’s level of commitment to the sport was widely recognised by others, which is why he held the positions of Swimming NSW President and served on numerous Club, District, State and National Committees and Boards. At each and every level he worked diligently to advance the sport of swimming and provide service to its members. He efforts were justifiably recognised through Life Memberships at Club, District, State and in 2014 he was awarded Life Membership of Swimming Australia.
Aside from his excellent administration skills, Pat reached the highest levels as a Technical Official, working his way up from assisting at local Club nights to officiating at International competitions, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. To reach this level requires a high degree of expertise and also a willingness to listen and learn from others. Pat recognised that he had some great mentors that assisted him with his officiating and he therefore spent countless hours passing on his own knowledge to other up and coming officials with the same dreams that he had of representing Australia as an official on the world stage. There are but a handful of individuals that can boast Pat’s international representation for Australia as a technical official.
Even up until the last Summer season before COVID struck again, Pat continued to attend Swimming meets, whether this be a State Meet as a Meet Director or travelling all over NSW to provide our Clubs and Districts with electronic timing equipment for their local meets. A service he provided generously without payment. Travelling thousands of kilometres each year across the State brought Pat into contact with many Swimming NSW members across a wide range of Clubs and for this reason he built many great friendships across all of NSW.
Because he was always true to his word and looking to grow the sport of Swimming, Pat was held in the highest regard by all he came into contact with from the grass roots level of our sport to amongst Stakeholders at National level. He was often the voice of reason and common sense when conflicts arise out people’s passion for the sport and Pat’s key strength was to find solutions and then work to make them happen.
It is fair to say that Pat spent the majority of his free time over the past 40-plus years in service to the sport of swimming. His contribution at all levels of the sport, from official to educator to administrator, was invaluable in the conduct of our sport. Importantly throughout his time in the sport, Pat never received remuneration for any of the positions he held, like many it has just been his enjoyment of being involved that kept his dedication at such a high level for so long.
Pat’s passing is a terrible loss for Swimming NSW and he will be sorely missed by many many people across our State. We extend our heartfelt thanks for all that he gave to the sport of swimming in both NSW and Australia.
Updated 28 October
Pat's funeral will be held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Leppington at 11:30am on 3 November 2021. (South Chapel, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Camden Valley Way, Leppington).
A wake will be held at the Crossroads Hotel, Casula.
Limited numbers are permitted inside the chapel but there will be an undercover area outside the chapel for additional attendees.
Please note attendees will need to show proof of full vaccination.
