About

Established in 1904, we are one of the oldest and most successful swimming clubs in Victoria.

Surrey Park Swimming is a not for profit club providing swimming lessons, diving lessons, club swim squads and high performance athlete training to families in our local community for over 120 years.

Our history —
from 1904 to today

Our rich history started in 1904 at “Surrey Dive” in Box Hill. Our swimming club has survived many wars, generational changes, and global events.

Our mission

Inspiring a lifelong love of swimming by providing exceptional aquatic education, developing confident and capable swimmers, and nurturing the next generation of athletes in a safe, inclusive, and community-focused environment.

Our values

Quality

We provide correct stroke technique in a fun and encouraging learning environment run by experienced professionals.

Accessibility

We want swimming lessons accessible to all families and donate a portion from every single swim lesson we run at targeted centres to our Community Access Program for Swimming (CAPS).

Progression

We provide correct stroke technique in a fun and encouraging learning environment run by experienced professionals.

Our executive committee

President	Simone Wendt	president@surreypark.org.au
Vice-President	Anthony Clements	vice.president@surreypark.org.au
Treasurer	Sharyn Frawley	treasurer@surreypark.org.au
Secretary	Emma Dorrat-Sims	secretary@surreypark.org.au

Our general committee

Ash Lim

Daniella Greening

Flynn Phillips

Jarrod Condon

Daniel Knight

Luke Harris

Officer contacts

Child safety officer	childsafety@surreypark.org.au
Privacy officer	manager@surreypark.org.au
Grievance officer	grievanceofficer@surreypark.org.au
CEO	Phillip Kong

Our member stories

Alwyn Barrett (1957 – 1964)

Our beloved Alwyn talks about her time as a swimmer with the Surrey Park Swimmers Club from 1957 to 1964. She swam in “The Dive” in Box Hill and won numerous championships, broke many records, and was awarded Life Membership with the club. Alwyn went on to become a well respected swimming coach as well as travelling as Team Manager with Australian teams.

Jenny Hookey (1969 – 1981)

Jenny swam with the Surrey Park Swimmers club and was Club Captain. She enjoyed the fun elements of training and vividly remembers the cold mornings starting back in the outdoor pool after spring set in. Jenny was a swimming teacher in the learn to swim program back in the 70s and helped her mum, Betty Barkley (life member) who helped set up and run the swim school.

Heather O’Connor (1984 – present)

Heather is a Surrey Park Swimming legend and life member. She first started as a swimming parent when her children were in the learn to swim program. Then moved into various committee and team manager roles. Heather first started as a general committee member, then moved to executive committee roles and was Club President for two multi year terms.

Katherine O’Connor (1994 – 2001)

Katherine swam through our Learn to Swim program and progressed to Surrey Park Swimming Club to compete at national level events. Katherine was our Club Captain for several years, taught and coached for the club, and also trained swimmers who coach at Surrey Park Swimming today!

Justin bell (1992 – 2025)

Justin is a third generation Surrey Park swimmer following in his mum, uncle, and grandpas footsteps. Justin learnt to swim at Surrey Park, swam as a junior and then club member, then progressing into coaching with the club. After a short stint in Queensland.

Justin worked his way up the Surrey Park Swimming coaching ranks to become our Head coach from 2020-2025. Justin was awarded Life Membership with the club in 2025 due to his outstanding contribution throughout his life as a swimmer, volunteer, and coach.

Flynn Phillips (2002 – present)

Flynn is Surrey Park Swimming High Performance Squad athlete and committee member. Flynn has reached many impressive milestones during his swimming career. Hear how swimming has shaped Flynn into who he is today.

Ian Pope and Matt Welsh (1994 – 2001)

Ian Pope was an influential head coach with Surrey Park starting in the 1980’s through to recent years. Ian coached hundreds of swimmers within the community and was an immensely dedicated coach for Surrey Park Swimming. One highlight of his career at Surrey Park was coaching Olympic medallist Matt Welsh, by discovering his passion and natural ability at age 18 years. Hear Matt and Ian’s journey to the Olympics during their time at Surrey Park Swimming.

Tanin Kursidim (2006 – present)

Tanin is a current Surrey Park Swimming High Performance Squad athlete, Swimming Teacher, and Lead Instructor. Hear Tanin discuss his motivations and experience to achieve his swimming goals and his progress through the whole Surrey Park Swimming program, from Learn to Swim to High Performance Squad.