About the Masters Swimming Organization

INTRODUCTION

The Australian Masters Swimming Organization was formed in 1975. It was originally called the “Australian Union of Senior Swimmers International” hence the acronym AUSSI – and of course this should not be confused with the more recognized “Aussie” acronym, generally used for those of Australian citizenship.

Masters Swimming Australia is an Australia wide association of adult swim clubs hose members, men and women twenty years and older, swim regularly to keep fit and enjoy the benefits of membership. The Queensland Branch of this national organization is known as Queensland Masters Swimming (QMS). Research indicates that most individuals need extra support in order to maintain their own regular exercise program. QMS provides this support through club membership. Clubs are where people with similar goals meet, swim together, encourage each other, and make new friends.

Members are given opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities, and may choose to swim for their club in competitions. Clubs cater for all ability levels, from those who can just swim through to the experienced swimmer.

Everyone is most welcome, and our motto says it all -

FITNESS, FRIENDSHIP and FUN

BEGINNINGS

AUSSI Masters Swimming in Australia Inc. was originally constituted in Sydney as the Australian Union of Senior Swimmers International (AUSSI) on the 22nd September 1975.

The first ‘Masters’ style swim meet in Australia was conducted at the Harbord Diggers’ Club in May 1971. Then, on the 30th March 1974, a team of US Masters Swimmers visited Australia for a competition at the Heffron Park Pool in Sydney. This was attended by swimmers from South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Later that same year on the 18th October, a meeting was held, and it was at this meeting that the Australian Masters Swimming Association was formed. This became AUSSI in September 1975.

The first Australian Masters Swimming Championship was held on the 8 th March 1975, and the AUSSI National Swim and Club Championships have been held every year since then. AUSSI played a major role in the formation of Masters Swimming International (MSI) in 1983 and has a substantial commitment to world wide Masters Swimming. Through association with Swimming Australia, AUSSI is linked to FINA, the world governing body of swimming.

AUSSI Masters Swimming was incorporated in 1986 in South Australia and now is based in Melbourne with more than 200 clubs affiliated with the 8 Branches – one in each State and Territory in Australia. AUSSI Masters Swimming has conducted several International Swim Meets. The first Pan Pacific Masters Championships were held in Sydney in 1981, the second in 1983, and the seventh in Perth in 1999. The second FINA/MSI World
Masters Swim was held in Brisbane in 1988. This last event with some 4000 competitors (3000 from overseas) was the largest swim meet conducted anywhere in the world to that point in time. Brisbane also hosted the World Masters Games in 1994, with Melbourne hosting them in 2002.

Although swim meets play an important role in the AUSSI program, the majority if members prefer not to compete, but rather be involved in the aerobic activities within their club, gaining points for themselves and their club and hence participating in programs for Aerobic Trophies.

Masters Swimming’s stated purpose is “To encourage adults, regardless of age or ability, to swim regularly in order to promote fitness and improve their general health”.