History
The Nepean Aquatic Centre Swim Club was formed in 2011 from a vision to combine two existing local groups from differing backgrounds: Nepean Swimming Club Inc. and Wizards Swim Team Inc. to develop a strong foundation platform from which to offer progression to the serious swimming competitor whilst also offering an environment where athletes of any age can meet in a social atmosphere to participate in their chosen sport. At the time of amalgamation, Jackie Barck was the Head Coach of Wizards Swim Team Inc. having formed this club five years previously and, in sharing the vision for the new club, she accepted the parallel role at Nepean Aquatic Centre Swim Club.
Nepean Swim and Fitness Pty Limited operated learn to swim lessons and squad training at Fitness World Swimming at Peachtree Road, Penrith and Eva Bory Swim School at Bromley Road Emu Plains. Eva Bory Swim School was established in 1973 by Eva Bory, a former Hungarian born Olympian and backstroke world record holder and remained owned by Eva Bory until she passed away in December 2014.
Alan and Karen Bentley were founding members of the Nepean Swimming Club Inc. and hosted club nights at this facility during the winter season. Alan and Karen Bentley both swam at the centre at various times and they jointly managed the centre from 1992 to 1994 and then resumed management from March 2002 until the present day. This centre has continually provided a recognised quality learn to swim programme to the Penrith and Lower Blue Mountains community for which the Bentleys can be proud.
Upon the expiration of the lease and subsequent closure of the business at Fitness World Swimming in November 2010, all learn to swim lessons were combined at the Eva Bory Swim School premises and squad training was continued in part at Eva Bory and also within hired lanes at Penrith Memorial Pool.
The Nepean Aquatic Centre Swim Club held the first Annual General Meeting to coincide with the completion of building the Nepean Aquatic Centre that was officially opened in March 2011. The Nepean Aquatic Centre indoor complex incorporates a learn to swim pool measuring 12.5m x 13.2m and a separate lap pool comprising 4 x 25m lanes and 2 x 50m lanes that can be divided if required, into 4 x 25m lanes by an electronically raised wall.
The club now had a comfortable home base from which it could grow and the swimming members in the competitive squads were fortunate to be able to train together at the one facility and no longer within outdoor lanes where they had to endure the elements nor in a 12½m hydrotherapy pool nor in the 17½m lanes at Eva Bory Swim School teaching pool. The training squads and therefore, also the club, continue to draw the bulk of their junior members as graduates from the two currently operated learn to swim facilities at Nepean Aquatic Centre and Eva Bory Swim School.
In relation to the patronage of both centres, learn to swim enrolments range between approx. 3,000 to 5,000 lessons depending upon the season. Therefore, the potential to develop and expand the swimming club through participation numbers is quite evident. Competitive training squad sessions are scheduled at Nepean Aquatic Centre and although the athletes who make up the bulk membership of the club train within the competitive squads, the club caters to swimmers of all ages and abilities.