Posted on February 28, 2022 by Ken Banks

Fund Raiser for MND Research

Ian providing information on his upcoming ‘PedalCure4FightMND’ 850 km ride around the Riverina.

Laura gives a moving speech in regard to her MND fund raising experience

Fund Raiser for MND Research

Ian writes: “The Friday evening ‘do’ at our home was a great success in the main due to the wonderful support given by you all. The weather caused a little concern but the happy atmosphere prevailed and nobody’s spirits were too dampened.

The evening was touched with mixed emotions ranging from a having a good time to a few tears and everything in between. The reason for this was that I was allowed to use some local MND stories to highlight the terrible effects this disease can have. Firstly Max Woodward’s loss of his bubbly wife Jo and secondly Robbie’s loss of her God daughter(mother and athlete) at 44.

Then what a delight it was to have our very own Laura talk about her involvement with MND and the amazing 27km swim she did to raise lots of money for MND research. For someone who was terrified about public speaking, you did so well.

Mike and Lloyd provided wonderful background music and l think Christina and Jo would have loved to do a bit more dancing. Thanks to Mike and Lloyd.

I think we all had a good time with good food and company abounding.

I would like to say the Mollymook Swimmers have been wonderful contributors to the MND cause and I thank you for your support.

My dear wife Leonie and her helpers, thanks for making the evening so special.

Regards to all. I’ll pedal long and hard to support MND”. Link: MND Fund Raiser

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Posted on February 20, 2022February 20, 2022 by Ken Banks

Welsh Island, Narrawallee Ocean Swim Classic

Intrepid group of Mollymook Ocean Swimmers prior to their Welsh Island to Narrawallee Ocean Swim. (Pic credit, Leonie)

Pic: The route from ‘Welsh Island to

Narrawallee and return. Pic credit: Dave. (Hans also sent in a route pic)

Take Us to the Morning Sun in ‘Nazza’

Mike provides the following report: “After weeks of meticulous planning and kilometres of arduous ocean racing preparation, a bunch of intrepid Mollymook ocean swimmers took the journey to Narrawallee (aka ‘Nazza’) to participate in the inaugural Welsh Island Classic.

Why? I hear you ask. Well, it was because we are inspired by aquatic life, plus by late February, Summer’s on the run. People told us ‘bout the Welsh Island way so we thought we’d have some fun. They didn’t try and hold us back. There was nothin’ they could say.

So there we were – ‘goggled eyes in paradise – and we went to swim today . . . [humming]

Take us to the morning sun in Nazza (Oh-oh-oh)
Take us where this classic swim
Gonna treat us so right, so right, so right

We waded in just north of Welsh Island (cartographically known as ‘unnamed island’) and swam around its eastern shore. In open water now, we headed south towards the far corner of Narrawallee beach where we frolicked among the waves. Once everyone arrived, we regrouped and set off on the return journey.

As we passed Welsh Island for the second time, we could almost smell the scrumptious brunch, beneath the sunny sky. Barista coffees comin’ to us baby ’cause right before our eyes, our hosts Sue and Chris together with a generous band of helpers and supporters were preparing for our return. Thanks so much to Sue and Chris for opening their home and lending their name to this classic event, and thanks to Greg for his wonderful brain wave in conceiving it.

We had so much fun in the post swim debrief . . . Friends talking on the balcony, talkin’ ’bout sea life love, talkin’ ’bout the rocks and waves, and the way they shake us up . . . [singing]

Take us to the morning sun in Nazza (Oh-oh-oh)
Take us where this classic swim
Has treated us so right, so right, so right

[also inspired by Dragon and ScoMo]“

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Posted on February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 by Ken Banks

Welsh Island, Narrawallee – Ocean Swim

Welsh Island, Narrawallee Ocean Swim – Preview (Pic credit: Sue)

‘Welsh Island’ Classic this Sunday, February 20, 2022

Greg has provided the following details: Narrawallee Part 2, another scenic swim.

Meeting 6;30 @ 51 Matron Porter Drive Narrawallee. (Just look for the ‘Welsh Manor’)

This swim will be a beach start (opposite ‘Welsh Manor’) out around ‘Welsh Island’, then head south to the southern end of Narrawallee beach (re group) and head back northwards, around ‘Welsh Island’ and into the beach. Here we will regroup and head to the ‘Welsh manor’ for a fresh shower and scrumptious light breakfast, followed up with coffee. It will be fantastic …

(Swim approx. 2kms , water temp expected to be just lovely with a light northerly wind.)

Look forward 2cu there for swim adventure number 2. Regards, GSM😎

Comments from last Saturday’s Jones Beach to Narrawallee swim qualifier:

Glynis wrote: “Well done everyone maybe next time I will join you elite swimmers. I was in Sydney for the weekend, was thinking about you all !!”

John Sarich (nee Smeeth) wrote: “What an awesome swim. Looking forward to having a crack at that swim on my next visit down south”.

Beijing Winter Olympics reminder,

Don’t forget our ‘Mollymook connection’, Sami Kennedy-Sim will compete on Thursday February 17. Details and times on my recent post: Link – Sami – Beijing Winter Olympics.

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Posted on February 15, 2022 by Ken Banks

2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games

Sami Kennedy-Sim to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games (Pic credit: Sami’s web site)

Sami Kennedy-Sim competition date is February 17. Seeding at 2:30 pm and Finals at 5 pm (Sydney time)

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Sami Kennedy-Sim (our Mollymook connection with these winter Olympics) advised: “My competition date is February 17. I believe seeding is around 2:30pm and Finals at 5pm (Sydney time) but keep your eyes on the schedule via the Olympic Games Web site and 7Olympics (Channel 7). I will be travelling to Beijing on February 9th with my amazing support team. I am so proud to be in this position and I hope to do you all proud come race day – I will wave to you all on Channel 7!”

Channel 7 news announcement on January 22, 2022 quoted Sami; “I am so proud to have been selected to represent Australia at my third Olympic Games. Having an Olympics in a similar time zone to Australia means that I will feel connected with my friends and family – ski cross is on at prime time so I can’t wait to share this experience with everyone, I’m so excited.”

Sami’s family have a holiday home in Mollymook. I sent an email to Sami congratulating her on selection for this year’s 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. She wrote back “Thank you for your warm wishes! It’s a very exciting time indeed! Have a swim for me (at Mollymook) – can you believe that I haven’t been in the water since last May! I even bought a new surfboard back in May 2021 and have surfed it once before everything went into lockdown when I was in the mountains!”

Sami’s web site link is: https://www.samikennedysim.com/ (Click on image below to enlarge for reading purposes)

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Posted on February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 by Ken Banks

Narrawallee Ocean Swim Report

Intrepid group of Mollymook Ocean Swimmers (The following pic credits, Greg, Helen and Tim)

‘Once in a Lifetime’ Swim’

Jones Beach to South Narrawallee

Mike provides the following report: “This morning we Mollymook swimmers found ourselves swimming in another part of the ocean, in beautiful water with a beautiful coastline. And we asked ourselves ‘how did we get here?’ Well, a few of us felt that we’d been letting the days go by, and it was time for new adventures.

So with expert logistical support (thanks to Greg and the taxi-driving team), over twenty of us gathered in the early light above Jones Beach, stopped for a quick photo op, and then stumbled over rocks and stones into the blue again, the silent water. Our destination – the idyllic sands of South Narrawallee some 1.4 kms to the north west!

We glided and churned through the waves asking ourselves ‘how do we work this?’ not letting the water hold us down, instead noting the vibrant sea life and the water at the bottom of the ocean. For many it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Before too long, the first arrivals emerged from the shore break to be followed by a succession of companions realising that time wasn’t after us. Feeling chuffed at making it, we asked ourselves ‘What have we done’?

Later we gathered at Milton for a debrief, coffee and a Mollymook ocean swimming community catch-up.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was . . .

[after David Byrne, Talking Heads ‘Once in a Lifetime’]”

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Pic: The route from Jones Beach to Narrawallee. (Thanks Tim)

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Posted on February 8, 2022 by Ken Banks

Narrawallee Ocean Swim

Jones Beach to Narrawallee Ocean Swim

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers, Excursion to Narrawallee

Greg Young provides the following info in regard to the planned scenic swim from Jones Beach to Narrawallee:

Date: This Saturday February 12, 2022

Details: Meet @ Southern End Narrawallee beach (Surfer Ave) 6:30 / 6:45 a.m. car shuffle to Jones beach. Plan to start the swim around 7.00 am

Expected conditions: Overcast & low 20’s / light SSE winds / low swell 😎

Coffee etc TBA on day 😎

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Posted on February 2, 2022February 3, 2022 by Ken Banks

Mollymook Swimmers, news update.

Tony (right, doing swim leg) and Dave (to follow in the board rescue), were the raging HOT favourites for this Board Rescue Event

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers at the NSW Country Surf Titles

A number of the Mollymook Ocean swimmers were part of the 1000 plus competitors who took part in last weekends NSW country surf titles at Cape Hawke beach, Foster. One of the stand out events was the men’s board rescue. In an absolute ‘boil-over’ veterans Robbie Scott and Paul Jones pull off a massive upset defeating the raging favourites Tony Ireland and Dave Tudor-Jones.

(Click on the following pics to enlarge)

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