Swimming Carnivals

The College Swimming Carnivals open the House calendar each February at the Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre (25 Aquatic Drive). The Junior carnival (Years 3–6) is held on the Thursday and the Senior carnival (Years 7–12) on the Friday. Every student attends; students who do not swim competitively take part in novelty events, cheer for their House and help as officials. Results from the Senior carnival select the College team for the CSSA Swimming Championships.

2026 results

Junior Swimming Carnival — Thursday 26 February 2026

Junior age champions: 9/10 years — Harper L. (Chisholm) and Oscar D. (MacKillop); 11 years — Ruby N. (Romero) and Xavier T. (Chisholm); 12/13 years — Chloe W. (Polding) and Lachlan B. (Chisholm). Two Junior records fell: Chloe W. swam 34.9s in the 12/13 girls 50m freestyle and the Chisholm 12/13 girls set a new 4 × 50m relay record of 2:31.4.

Senior Swimming Carnival — Friday 27 February 2026

Senior age champions: 12/13 years — Sienna P. (Romero) and Finn A. (Chisholm); 14 years — Isla K. (Chisholm) and Hugo M. (Romero); 15 years — Amelie R. (Polding) and Jasper L. (MacKillop); 16 years — Matilda C. (Romero) and Sebastian O. (Romero); 17 years — Georgia H. (Chisholm) and Ethan V. (Polding); 20 years — Lily F. (MacKillop) and Callum S. (Romero). The Staff v Year 12 relay was won by the staff for the third year running.

Combined Swimming Shield 2026

Chisholm took the Swimming Shield for the first time since 2019. Points from both carnivals count towards the House Cup — see Houses.

CSSA Swimming Championships — Thursday 19 March 2026

The 40-strong College team finished 3rd of 12 schools at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, our best result in a decade, with Georgia H. (17 years) winning the 50m and 100m freestyle.

2027 dates

Permission forms open on the Parent Portal in Week 1 of Term 1 2027.

How the day works

• Students arrive at school as normal in House polo, navy sport shorts and hat, with bathers underneath or in their bag. Buses take each year level to the Aquatic Centre.
• Events: 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, 100m freestyle (Senior), 4 × 50m House relays, and 25m novelty and "have a go" events for less confident swimmers (Junior: kickboard 25m; Senior: noodle relay). Every entry earns House points; placings earn extra.
• Nominations are made on the Learning Hub (Senior) or via the class teacher (Junior) two weeks before the carnival.
• Students who cannot swim for medical reasons bring a Portal note and attend as officials and House supporters.
• The Aquatic Centre canteen is open; students may also bring their own lunch. Parents are welcome in the spectator stands; entry is free. Parking is in the Aquatic Centre car park (free, four hours).

What to bring

Bathers (worn under House polo), towel, goggles, thongs or slides for the pool deck, a second towel or warm top, hat and sunscreen for outside, drink bottle, lunch and snacks, a plastic bag for wet gear. Students in Years 3–6 should have their name on everything. No phones on the pool deck.

Wet weather

The Aquatic Centre is indoor, so the carnivals go ahead in rain. They are cancelled only on a day of Total Fire Ban (no College transport operates) or if the forecast at 9:00am is 35°C or above and the Centre's outdoor areas are required; the backup date is the following Monday.

Contact

Senior carnival: Mr Luke Ferraro, sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au. Junior carnival: Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au. Phone (03) 9555 0100.