The Sandgate Storm amateur swimming club is celebrating a significant milestone this year, marking 100 years of doing laps.
Founded in 1924, club members initially competed at the Shorncliffe Pier Baths, with women swimming on the right side of the pier and men on the left.
The rough weather and jellyfish they endured in those early years are a far cry from the comfortable pool the swimmers now compete in at Sandgate State School.
Club co-ordinator Casey Padovan said the organisation had been an iconic part of the 4017.
“Many locals and people who grew up here have fond memories of Tuesday nights at swim club, having a barbecue and jumping in the pool,” Casey said.
“Deagon Ward Councillor Jared Cassidy’s grandfather was a coach back in the day and Jared himself had a strong affiliation with the club, recently recalling his days going to swim club when he was a kid – although he did say he remembered the grandstand being much bigger than it is.
“Although swim club looks a little different from when it first began, it’s still a beautiful community where everyone is welcome and everyone can have fun.”
A Legacy of Fun and Competition
The club’s ethos is competitive but fun, and learning to swim is also an important part of the organisation, with younger members learning the correct way to perform each stroke and practice diving each week.
The club will be celebrating their anniversary with an event on 26 November, which will feature a lucky door prize, barbecue, swim races and memorabilia from days gone by.
There will also be a display of the swimming club’s ‘timeline’, as the organisation has moved around the area several times.
In 1927, the club moved to a new pool on Flinders Parade but when this was demolished in 1969, the swimmers moved temporarily to Banyo High School.
In the 1970s, the club operated from Sandgate Olympic Pool, however in the mid-90s, it moved to where it remains today at Sandgate State School. In 2021, the swimming club officially became part of the Sandgate State School P&C.
Casey added as Brisbane approached the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there was no better time to dive into Sandgate’s local swim club.
“It’s just great that 100 years on, kids are still braving the cold water, enjoying the BBQ, and creating memories that will last a lifetime,” Casey said.
For more information or to join the club, visit the club’s information page or their facebook page Sandgate Storm.
Sandgate Storm Swim Club Centenary
- Tuesday, 26 November, 5pm
- Sandgate State School pool
- Keogh Street, Sandgate
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