A Melton Swimming Club committee member’s dedication and long service to the sport was honoured with an award last month.
On September 12, Melton Swimming Club secretary and competitions officer Julie Walsh was presented with the 2025 Meritorious Service Award presented at this year’s UNCLOUD Victorian Age SC Championships by Swimming Victoria President Andrew Williamson, honouring her for her time, expertise, and service to the sport of swimming for decades.
Ms Walsh has held many positions in the committee of the Melton Swimming Club over the past 45 years and has been a Swim Victoria official for more than 20 years.
According to a Swimming Victoria spokesperson, she has been a cornerstone of swimming in Melbourne’s west and was a driving force behind Melton Swimming Club’s affiliation with Swimming Victoria in the early ‘90s.
“As a long-standing Swimming Victoria accredited technical official (meet manager), Julie is a familiar and much-appreciated presence at junior competitions across the state … her unwavering commitment continues to inspire and support the swimming community in the Western Suburbs,” the spokesperson said.
She was awarded life membership of Melton Swimming Club in 1994 and of the Metro West District in 2015.
Ms Walsh said receiving the award was a “real honour”.
“It was great to be presented the award in front of my family, friends, fellow club members and the swimming community,” Ms Walsh said.
“Junior development is my passion. I just love … [the] encouragement, meets and getting newbies involved in the sport. Their faces light up when they receive a medal or even [when] awarded a certificate of participation.”
