IT’S one of the biggest weeks for country swimmers, and new Swimming Victoria President Michelle Harris is thrilled to be in the middle of it all, showing off Gippsland to the other regional swimmers at the Victorian Country LC Championships.
Michelle took over the role in September and is the first rural person to take on the role.
“I think it will bring a different perspective to the organisation - things are different for country swimmers and I hope to make people more aware of some of the challenges they face,” she said.
Michelle has been involved with swimming for over 10 years, with her children swimming for South Gippsland Bass (SGB).
She soon became involved with the club and became a technical official, before moving up to help oversee Swimming Victoria through a role on the board.
The role is a voluntary role and she will continue to work for GippSport, helping all sports clubs throughout the region.
In her paid role, Michelle supports local Gippsland sporting clubs as the manager of sector development at GippSport.
“It has been great to be a part of a state sporting association because they set the policy, in terms of the future directions of sport. The biggest learning is being part of all the conversations happening at that strategic level, so I can use my local club experience and bring that to the table,” she said.
Michelle took on the role of Swimming Victoria’s Technical Committee Chairperson, finding new ways to make technical officiating fun and inclusive for new people, while progressing the technology used, which is still in a transition period.
“I combined my two passion areas: advocating for rural and regional Victoria and then my technical officiating side,” Harris said.
It will be a busy year ahead for Michelle, with swimming returning to the pre-covid competition levels, in a sport that is booming throughout the country.
Summer is peak season for many of the competitions and she has been busy assisting in the organising of each event, however she enjoys the challenge and seeing the swimmers enjoy themselves before and after a race.
She knows all about the effort the competitors must put in to reach their goals, with Michelle, a keen runner, achieving one of her own goals last year, completing the New York Marathon.
“Competing in the New York Marathon was a huge goal of mine, completing the biggest marathon in the world with over 51,000 people across the five boroughs of New York was unforgettable,” she said.
Michelle is still involved with the local club, SGB whether it be advising the committee or chatting to the swimmers.
This weekend, more than 700 swimmers and their families will be descending on Traralgon.
“The Championships are such a wonderful celebration of Victorian country swimming and as a Gippslander, I am very proud to welcome swimmers to the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre,” Michelle said.
Michelle is determined to encourage women take on more leadership roles in her time as president and help the sport transition to the use of the new technology.
“It’s an exciting time for swimming and I look forward to being a part of it,” she said.
