Beatty Park Bears

The Beatty Park Bears is a sports club located in Perth, Western Australia. The club meets every Thursday, starting from the first Thursday after Easter, until the first week of October. The meetings take place at 12 noon and consist of a varied swim programme.

The swim programme includes timed handicap swim races over distances of 50, 100, 200, and 400 metres. The club members rotate between swimming 100 and 50 metres on one day, and 200 and 50 metres on another day, each week. Following the swim, the members gather at the pool café for a refreshing coffee.

On the first Thursday of every month, the club holds a special 400-metre swim race. After this race, the members enjoy a lunch together either at the pool café or at a local pub. Points are allocated to each swimmer based on their performance, with a sliding scale from 10 to 1. At the end of each month, the member with the most points is awarded an embroidered towel.

The Beatty Park Bears have a membership of approximately 35 swimmers. The club is led by a dedicated team of office bearers, including President Brian Hall, Captain John Angove, Treasurer Brian Green, and Secretary Richard Johnson. For any inquiries, Richard Johnson can be contacted at 0412 319 014 or through email at randljohnson@iinet. net.

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The Beatty Park Bears is a member of the Australian Winter Swimming Association (AWSA). The AWSA was formed in 1959 with the aim of organising an annual winter swimming competition for its member clubs. Over the years, the association has grown to include various clubs from different regions of Australia.

Currently, the AWSA boasts over 5,000 swimmers who compete weekly from May to September. The association's championships, held on the third Sunday in September, attract over 1,000 swimmers participating in a total of 32 events. Many past and present Olympians and Surf Life Saving Australia champions have found success at these championships.

The Beatty Park Bears have been actively participating in the AWSA championships and have established themselves as a respected club within the association. The club's commitment to winter swimming and their dedication to fostering a sense of camaraderie among its members make them a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy the sport in Perth.