Inaugural Year for Swimming WA Leagues
Swimming WA is pleased to announce the names of the 5 Leagues within Western Australia. Each League name has been selected with the representative communities’ input, with connection to the representative clubs within that League. As you will read, our Leagues are named after some of our esteemed Swimming WA Hall of Fame athletes, an acknowledgement of their Western Australian roots and for some their start of their swimming journeys.
Swimming WA believe it was important that even though in WA we have had no First Nation representatives in our Hall of Fame, we are still able to entwine aspects of First Nations culture within the Leagues to pay our respects to the traditional custodians of this land. Listed in order below are the seasons, and the colours with the representing Leagues.
Swimming WA is excited to honour the heritage that runs deep through Western Australian swimming both metro, and regionally.
More in-depth information on each of the League Hall of Fame representatives can be found below, along with the clubs that align to that League for 2023.
Clubs: Armadale Kelmscott, Fremantle Port, Kwinana, Rockingham, South Shore, Southlake Dolphins, Southside Penrhos Wesley.
Season: Birak- First Summer | December and January | Associated colour- Red
Club of Origin: Melville
Inducted in 2008, Lynnette Bates (nee Watson) is an Australian backstroke swimmer of the 1960s, who won a silver medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, narrowly missing two more medals.
Watson combined with Lyn McClements, Judy Playfair and Janet Stienbeck to register a silver medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay, trailing the Americans home by 1.7 seconds. Competing in the individual 100-metre freestyle, Watson was eliminated in the semifinals. She placed sixth and fourth in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke respectively. She also finished fourth as part of the 4×100-metre freestyle relay team. Two years later at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Watson won four gold medals in both backstroke events and in the 4×100-metre freestyle and medley relays, as well as a silver in the 100-metre freestyle. She later became a team administrator for Australia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Lynnette’s birth month borders on Birak, which sees the rains begin to ease, the warm weather of Birak starts to take hold with the afternoon sea breeze cooling those close to the ocean. Easterly winds in the morning, followed by the afternoon sea breeze meant that traditionally, this was the time of year Noongar people burnt country. They would burn the country in mosaic patterns to increase grazing pastures for some animals, to aid in seed germination, ease of mobility across the country and fuel reduction.
Clubs: All Regional WA.
Season: Bunuru- Second Summer | February and March | Associated colour- Orange
Club of Origin: Katanning
Inducted in 2008, Kevin O'Halloran was WA's first swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal, which he did at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as a part of the world record breaking 2 x 200m Freestyle Relay team. Earlier in the games, O'Halloran narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle by 0.4 seconds.
Kevin trained at Katanning, in muddy river water pools. The 50m pool at Kojonup was named the Kevin O’Halloran Memorial Pool in his honours, and he was posthumously inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions.
Kevin’s birth month falls during the Bunuru season the hottest time of the year, Bunuru is a season of little to no rain and hot easterly winds with a cooling sea breeze in the afternoon if you are along the coast. The weather during this time permitted Noongar people to live and fish along the coast, rivers and estuaries and their diet consisted mainly of freshwater and sea foods.
Clubs: Arena, Aqua Attack, Aquajets, Breakers, North Coast, Riverside, Scarborough Beach, Western Sprint.
Season: Djeran- Autumn | April and May | Associated colour- Green
Club of Origin: City of Perth
Inducted in 2022, Blair Evans is a dual Olympian, Commonwealth Games Medallist and a proud Western Australian. Evans made an impressionable entrance to the international scene at the 2009 FINA World Championships after dominating the 800m Freestyle at the Australian trials.
Since 2009, Blair has been an integral part of the Australian team representing Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games where she won bronze in the 400m Individual Medley.
In addition to her swimming accolades, Blair has been an incredible ambassador for the sport, supporting the community from learn to swim through to being an active mentor for our rising stars.
Blair’s birth month falls at the start of Djeran which sees a break in the very hot weather, and the change in the season is evident in the wind with seeds, dust and leaves blown across the landscape. You’ll also notice this season brings cooler nights with a dewy presence for us to discover in the early mornings. This season sees red wildflowers take bloom. As the season progresses, nights become cool, and damp and the days can become cooler too with some rain. Noongar people would at this time start preparing and position their Mia Mias (homes and shelter) for heavier rains in the coming winter months.
Clubs: All Saints, Curtin University Victoria Park, Highlanders, Mt Helena, Newman Churchlands, Perth City, Superfins & UWA West Coast.
Season: Djilba- First Spring | August and September | Associated colour- Pink
Club of Origin: West Coast
Inducted in 2016, Eamon Sullivan was the youngest male in the 2008 Athens Australian Olympic Team and improved his personal best in the heat time that gained him a spot in the final of the 4x100m Freestyle. From a Relay swimmer to the “leading man” Eamon swam his way to the top of Australian sprinting before conquering the world and becoming the World Record holder in the 50m and 100m Freestyle in early 2008. At his second Olympics in Beijing in 2008, Eamon twice broke the 100m World Record.
Eamon continued his strong swimming form in 2012, qualifying for the London Olympics and swimming in the finals of both the 4x100m Freestyle and the 50m Freestyle.
Eamon’s birth month falls within Djilba which is a transitional time of the year. Djilba has days that are very cold, some that are rainy and windy and others where the sun comes through. This is the start of the massive flowering explosion in the Southwest. It begins with yellow flowering plants such as the Acacias. You’ll also notice cream and striking blue coloured flowers. As the season progresses and the temperatures continue to rise, you will see the flower stalks of the Balgas (Grass Tress) emerging in preparation for the coming Kambarang season.
Clubs: Canning Districts, Central Aquatic, Claremont Aquatic, Guildford Kalamunda, Lesmurdie Legends, Riverton Aquanauts, St Hilda’s, Westside Christchurch
Season: Kambarang- Transformational time of the year | October and November | Associated colour- Yellow
Club of Origin: Swan Hills / Claremont Uniswim
Inducted in 2008 Priya Cooper began her swimming as a form of therapy. She was encouraged to compete in the 1991 National Wheelchair Games, where she won 9 gold medals. Priya then focused her sights higher winning 2 Gold and 2 silver at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games, and 5 Gold at the 1994 Malta World Championships. In addition, Priya has represented WA at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, winning numerous medals in both events. In addition, Priya broke numerous world records throughout her career.
Priya is currently the Chair for Western Australian Institute of Sport elected in 2022.
Priya’s birth month falls within Kambarang, which is the wildflower season with many yellow flowers, orchids, kangaroo paws and banksias in bloom. One of the most striking displays of flowers at this time of year is the Mooja or Australian Christmas Tree, where its bright orange/yellow flowers signal that heat is on its way.
