Here we recap Riverstone Dolphins RSL Youth Swimming Club’s Presidents Address at the Riverstone Dolphins 2025–2026 end of season presentation.
Craig Miller, President
“It’s my pleasure as Riverstone Dolphins President to celebrate what has been one of the most exciting and successful seasons our club has seen in recent years.”
Opening Acknowledgement
First, I want to acknowledge:
- Our swimmers
- Our families
- Our coaches
- Our Technical Officials
- Our hardworking committee
- Our Sponsors
Our club does not run without your energy, your commitment, and your belief in what the Dolphins stand for.
Membership & Culture
This season we welcomed 186 members into the club. That includes:
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- 134 swimmers aged 13 and under
- 43 Representative swimmers were registered to as representative swimmers
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We now have a beautifully balanced club with 95 females and 91 males, and for the first time in several years, we reinstated the role of Club Captain, Kaiden Macfarlane—a huge step in developing leadership pathways within our club. We also saw two former Life Members return to the fold, which speaks volumes
about the spirit and momentum the Dolphins are creating.
Coaching, Training & Development
Our training program this season has been nothing short of exceptional.
Holiday Workshops
- Brett Winkworth delivered 4 race clinics to 32 swimmers
- Nicole Dodds delivered 4 workshops to 18 swimmers
The feedback from families has been incredibly positive, and these sessions had a noticeable impact in the pool.
Stroke Correction
Nicole’s stroke correction groups grew consistently across both Terms 4 and Term 1, with strong attendance every Tuesday and Thursday.
Squads
A huge thank you to Jo Camilleri, Sam Shaw, and Nicole. Our squad numbers have grown term-on-term:
- 36 swimmers in Term 4
- 23 during the January School Holidays
- 42 in Term 1
This shows real momentum, strong coaching, and a program that swimmers and our families genuinely value.
Meets & Representative Achievements
Twilight Meet
Our Twilight Meet was another standout success:
- 126 registered swimmers
- 298 individual pool entries
Zone Representation
We are proud to have 30 Dolphins selected to represent Zone 4 at the State RSL Meet in Muswellbrook in March 2026.
SMNW Pathways
Across the season, our swimmers achieved multiple state qualifying times, further
cementing the Dolphins as a strong development club in the Metro North-West
region. Swimming NSW has taken notice—our club nights are now known for their size,
organisation, and atmosphere.
Technical Officials – A Major Milestone
This is a milestone worth celebrating:
For the first time ever, Riverstone Dolphins ran the entire 2025–2026 season
without requiring outside Technical Official assistance. This is huge.
We are now a club that:
- Develops its own officials
- Retains them
- And supports the broader swimming community
We even had volunteers stepping forward from neighbouring clubs to support our meets—a testament to the respect Dolphins has earned.
Focus Areas for the Future
As strong as this season has been, we are not slowing down. Our key priorities
moving forward are:
- Growing Multiclass (MC) participation
- Expanding our Masters program—especially with three generations now swimming together on Thursday nights
- Increasing our representative numbers through continuity and targeted training
- Hosting an Open Age Meet this October
- Encouraging swimmers to race Short Course to maintain pathways
- Deepening engagement with nearby clubs to build race readiness
- Continuing to grow our pool of Technical Officials, especially from our junior ranks
- Expanding long distance events next a season
Appreciation and Closing
Before we move into awards, I want to sincerely thank every parent, every volunteer,
every official, every coach, and every committee member. You give your time. You give your energy. You give your belief. And because of that, Riverstone Dolphins is not just a club—it’s a community, a pathway, and a home for swimmers of all ages.
To our swimmers: Your achievements, your sportsmanship, and your commitment are what make us proud to be Dolphins.
Congratulations on an incredible season. Let’s carry this momentum into an
even bigger and better 2026–2027.
