Gardens Swimming Club

27/09/2026

Hi Gardens Team,

If you havnt seen, there are some FREE swim clinics occuring this week for Gardens and Rackley swimmers.
This clinic is being run at Tobruk this time, from Monday to Wednesday and details are as per link.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KEMeXchSJ/

School’s nearly out, which means school holidays are right around the corner! ☀️🏊‍♀️

Make the most of the break and keep your swimmer progressing with our holiday programs.

🏊‍♀️ Holiday Swim Program
Available at every Rackley Swimming venue, our intensive five-day program is designed to boost stroke development, strengthen water safety skills and build confidence in the pool, helping swimmers fast-track their progress over the school holidays and head into summer feeling prepared.

👉 More info at: https://rackleyswimming.com.au/holiday-swim-program/

🏅 Squad Skills Clinics
For our squad swimmers looking to take their skills to the next level, our Skills Clinics are a great opportunity to sharpen technique, develop their competitive edge and get race-ready ahead of the season.

👉 More info at: https://rackleyswimming.com.au/squad-clinics/

With clinics available across squad levels, swimmers can train in a supportive, energetic environment while focusing on the skills that matter when race day arrives.

School holidays are the perfect time to keep moving, keep learning and keep progressing. 💙

27/09/2026

🌿 LEGENDS OF “THE GARDEN” — BRAD SIMMONS 🌿
Australian Champion, Record Holder and Australian Junior Representative

Continuing our Legends of “The Garden” series, today we recognise an outstanding freestyle swimmer whose speed and early success placed him among Australia’s leading junior athletes—Brad Simmons.

Brad developed as a swimmer in Townsville as a member of Gardens Swimming Club. Although best known for his freestyle ability, his success across several strokes and the individual medley showed that he was also an exceptionally versatile young swimmer.

At the 2004 Queensland Open and Age Championships, Brad won the boys’ 11-years 100m freestyle in 1:02.47. He also placed third in the 200m individual medley and contested finals across several strokes while proudly representing Gardens.

However, Brad’s major breakthrough came two years later at the 2006 Australian Age Championships.

Racing in the boys’ 13-years 100m freestyle, Brad produced an incredible swim of 54.19 seconds to:

🥇 Win the Australian age title
🇦🇺 Establish a new Australian age-group record
🏊 Earn recognition as one of Australia’s leading junior swimmers

Gardens Swimming Club records also recognise Brad as a 2006 Australian representative, taking his journey from the lanes of Long Tan Memorial Pool to the national stage.

His achievements didn’t stop there.

In 2008, while still only 15 years old, Brad competed at the Australian Olympic Trials, racing the 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley alongside the nation’s best swimmers.

Reaching an Olympic Trials at such a young age was an extraordinary achievement and reflected the speed, versatility and competitive ability Brad had demonstrated throughout his junior career.

From the Gardens pool in Townsville to an Australian title, a national age-group record, Australian representation and the Olympic Trials, Brad’s achievements remain a proud part of our club’s competitive history.

His story reminds every young swimmer at “The Garden” that national records and Australian teams can begin in the very same lanes they train in today.

Congratulations, Brad Simmons—Australian champion, Australian age-group record holder, Australian junior representative and a true Legend of “The Garden.” 💚💛

Our Pool. Our Home. Our Garden.

27/09/2026

🏊 Club Nights are back at The Garden!

Four nights down, six to go in the Gardens Swimming Club 2026–27 season. Whether you’re chasing a PB or cheering from poolside, come along and enjoy a night with the team!

📅 Upcoming club nights
• Friday 6 November
• Friday 27 November
• Friday 4 December 🎄 Christmas Club Night
• Friday 8 January
• Friday 19 February
• Friday 19 March 🤝 Interclub Night

Save the dates and we’ll see you at The Garden! 🐙

A big thank you to Lewie Fire Protection for supporting our club nights. 💚🖤🤍

26/09/2026

🏊‍♂️🐙 **CHARTERS TOWERS — HERE WE COME!** 🐙🏊‍♀️

The Gardens crew is hitting the road for the **Charters Towers Swim Meet on 24–25 October 2026** — and if you’re planning on coming along, now’s the time to sort your accommodation!

🏨 **Rooms are filling up fast**, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Book the room, pack the swimmers, load up the car and get ready for a cracking weekend of racing with the team! 💪💦

**See you in Charters Towers!**


Charters Towers Amateur Swimming Club

23/09/2026

🌿 LEGENDS OF “THE GARDEN” — CAILLAN ARTHUR 🌿
Australian Open-Water Champion

Continuing our Legends of “The Garden” series, today we recognise an outstanding distance and open-water swimmer who progressed from the Gardens pool in Townsville to the top of the Australian podium—Caillan Arthur.

Training under respected Gardens coach Don Watson-Brown, Caillan developed into one of North Queensland’s leading young distance swimmers.

At the 2008 Queensland Short Course Championships, Caillan recorded an outstanding 4:11.77 in the boys’ 14-years 400m freestyle. The performance was preserved as a Swimming North Queensland record and confirmed his place among the region’s most talented junior distance swimmers.

But Caillan’s greatest achievement would come in the open water.

At the 2009 Australian Age Open Water Championships, Caillan contested the boys’ 14-years 5km event. After five kilometres of racing, he completed the course in 1:00:52.00 to claim the Australian championship.

🥇 Australian Age Open-Water Champion
🏊 Boys’ 14-years 5km — 1:00:52.00

It was an extraordinary result for Caillan—and part of a remarkable championship for Gardens Swimming Club.

At the same competition, fellow Gardens swimmer Nathan Barrett won the boys’ 14-years 10km national title in 2:06:04.00.

Two Gardens swimmers.
Two open-water events.
Two Australian champions.

Those victories demonstrated the incredible strength of the distance and open-water program developed at Gardens under Don Watson-Brown.

Caillan’s performances also earned recognition within Swimming Queensland’s development pathway. He was selected in the Queensland Flippers Junior Squad, listed as a Gardens swimmer coached by Don Watson-Brown, and was also named in Swimming Queensland’s Open Water Bronze Squad.

From racing distance freestyle in the green and gold of Gardens to becoming Australia’s leading 14-year-old over five kilometres, Caillan’s career demonstrated exceptional endurance, determination and courage.

His 2009 Australian title remains an important part of Gardens Swimming Club’s proud open-water history—and proof that some of Australia’s toughest swimmers have grown right here at “The Garden.”

Congratulations, Caillan Arthur—Australian champion, Queensland squad member, Swimming North Queensland record holder and a true Legend of “The Garden.” 💚💛

Our Pool. Our Home. Our Garden.

22/09/2026

👀 DID YOU SPOT COACH LUC? 🐙🏊‍♂️

Yesterday we threw out a little “Can You Spot Coach Luc?” challenge… and some of you had your detective hats on! 😂🔎

We've heard this has become the talk of the town! Well around the pools anyway. Well, the answer is in…

🥁 COACH LUC WAS NUMBER 14! 🥁

Yep — hiding in plain sight! 😂

Long before he was standing poolside at The Garden, stopwatch in hand and putting our swimmers through their paces, Coach Luc was in the water himself! 💪🌊

Some things change… some things don't.

From swimmer ➡️ coach, the love of the sport is still there — although these days he gets to stay dry while everyone else does the hard work. 😂

🐙 Well spotted to everyone who picked #14!

💚💛🖤
Same Coach. Same Team. Greater Things Ahead.

🐙

22/09/2026

Hi Team,

We know a few have bought personalised caps, and we are just finalising the order.
If keen, email Heather or jump onto our shopband buy one now.
Final order will be sent Wednesdsy next week!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FFsYtNW9S/

At Gardens Swimming Club standing out from the crowd is what we do best! Now you can put your best foot forward with your very own personalised swimming cap! Thats right, you can rep your favourite club with your name on your cap for all to see! Register your interest today!

22/09/2026

🔥🐙 NEVER TIRED — OUT NOW! 🐙🔥

The Garden has a soundtrack. 🎶🏊‍♂️

Introducing NEVER TIRED, the brand-new album from Gardens Swimming Club.

Early mornings.
Long sets.
PBs.
Big races.
Team laughs.
And the people who make The Garden what it is.

We’ve turned it all into music. 🎧

Some songs will pump you up.
Some will make you laugh.
And if you’re part of the Gardens crew… there might just be one about someone you know. 👀😂

Because at The Garden, we train hard, race hard, have a laugh along the way…

AND WE'RE NEVER TIRED. 💪🐙

🎵 NEVER TIRED — Gardens SC
🎧 Listen now on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/2bQuxFwHjLT90ZLhORHmka

Turn it up. 🔊
Share it around.
And tell us your favourite track! 👇

🐙 GARDENS SC — NEVER TIRED.

Gardens SC · album · 2026 · 14 songs

21/09/2026

🔍 CAN YOU SPOT COACH LUC?

Long before he became Gardens Head Coach, Luc was one of the young swimmers pictured here with the Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club.

We’ve numbered everyone in the photo—but can you work out which one is Luc?

Fun Story - notice how they are all wearing white swimmer? What happens when white clothes get wet? They all had to wear 2 pairs of togs that weekend!

Drop your guess in the comments! 👇💚🐙