Forbes Diggers Swimming Club’s annual Tom Drane Memorial swim already carries plenty of prestige, but there will be even more honour attached to the Australia Day event on Monday.
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Named in memory of the returned serviceman who helped found the club, the 2015 trophy has the distinction of marking the centenary of the Gallipoli landing.
“With 2015 being 100 years of Anzac it has a lot more to it this year,” said Diggers member David Sly.
“It’s a very prestigious event to win with all the Australia Day services happening,” he said.
The winner of the 2015 Tom Drane Memorial Trophy will need to swim as close as possible to their nominated 30m and 50m times, without ‘breaking’ or touching the wall ahead of schedule.
While onlookers, or those who wish to join the official Australia Day barbecue lunch, are welcome at the pool any time during the morning, those who wish to register for the swim should arrive about 9.30am, with the heats to start at 10.30am.
Lunch is planned to be served between 12.30pm and 1pm.
Forbes Shire Council’s Australia Day Ambassador Andy Paschilidis is reportedly keen to take part in the swim and David Sly said he would be most welcome.
“If he’s keen we’ll have a bit of a feature race, a scratch event, which will be a bit of fun,” he said.
David said the Diggers are keen for families to attend the swim, with prizes for juniors and adults in both the 30m and 50m events.
Forbes pool’s inflatable playground will also be on the water after the swim has concluded.
The barbecue lunch is free but the Diggers Swimming Club would welcome a gold coin donation from swimmers and other guests.
Locals won’t be the only ones interested in the annual swim, with a film crew from 60 Minutes in town this weekend interviewing Diggers member Andrew Drane.
Andrew is the grandson of Tom Drane and the great-grandson of TE Drane, who was a Gallipoli survivor.
