SWIMMING PERFORMANCE TROPHIES
RAUTER - CLARKE TROPHIES
The Ursula Rauter trophy was established in 1992 to commemorate Ursula’s memory and in recognition of her contribution to junior development areas within the club. Liz Clarke, a close friend of Ursula’s, was the main instigator of the trophy.
Liz Clark also had a very strong commitment to youth development both within the club and also in the local community. She was a board member and our first female club president from 1989 – 1991 and made an invaluable contribution to the club from 1985 until her death in 1994.
The Award criteria was reviewed in 2004 and now the Ursula Rauter trophy for boys and the Liz Clarke trophy for girls are awarded to the male and female swimmers who achieve the best swimming performance of the season according to the FINA international pointscore. Swimmers must be 10 years or under at the commencement of the season.
HOUGHTON - MEYER TROPHIES
Rick and Jean Houghton and Laurie and Nancy Meyer were mainstays of the club organization for many years, and developed the Meyer Trophy for boys the Houghton Trophy for girls in 1972 in order to give swimmers too young to compete for the Butler Trophy a major trophy to aim for.
These trophies are awarded to the male and female swimmers who achieve the best swimming performance according to the FINA international point score. Swimmers must be 13 years or under at the commencement of the season.
GRAEME AND HELEN WOOLES TROPHIES
These are new awards, presented for the first time in 2006/07 to recognised swimming performances by swimmers aged 14 years to 16 years. These trophies are the Graeme Wooles Trophy for boys and the Helen Wooles Trophy for girls. Graeme and Helen Wooles were long time members and supporters of Nunawading Swimming Club. Graeme went on to be President of the Club from 1982 to 1986 and continued to work for the Club until 2002.
These trophies are for swimmers aged 14 to 16 at the commencement of the season and are awarded to the swimmers who achieve the best swimming performance according to the FINA international point score.
SUTHERLAND TROPHIES
The Sutherland Trophies were instigated during the 1978/1979 season. At that time it was recognised that the demands of training and competition at top level make it difficult for older swimmers to participate in many other club activities and at times their outstanding achievements in swimming were not being adequately recognised.
Originally these awards were known as the 'Top Swimmer Awards' for males and females. They are now known as the John Sutherland Trophy for males and the Margaret Sutherland Trophy for females. Margaret Sutherland was the original driving force behind the Learn to Swim program at Nunawading.
Following the introduction of the Graeme & Helen Wooles trophies in 2006/07, these awards are now made to swimmers 17 years or over at the commencement of the season.
SWIMMER WITH A DISABILITY ‘SWIMMER OF THE YEAR’ TROPHY
The inaugural presentation of the Swimmer with a Disability Swimmer of the Year Trophy was made in 2006/07. The trophy is awarded to the male or female swimmer who achieved the highest ranking at an International meet in that season. If no swimmer attended an International meet, the swimmer with the highest ranking at the Australian Championships in that season shall receive the award. There is no age restriction for this award.
OPEN WATER SWIMMER OF THE YEAR TROPHY
The inaugural presentation of the Open Water Swimmer of the Year Trophy was made in 2006/07. The trophy is awarded to the male or female swimmer who achieved the highest finishing position at an International Open Water swim meet in that season. Swimmers must be 12 years or over at the commencement of the season to be eligible for this award.
MAJOR CLUB TROPHIES
NUGENT & CAUNE TROPHIES
The Nugent Trophy for Boys and Caune Trophy for girls, presented for the first time in 2006/07 stand with the Butler Trophies as the most prestigious trophies presented by the Club each year.
Leigh Nugent is currently the Patron of Nunawading Swimming Club. He started coaching at Nunawading in 1979 and continued through as Head Coach until 2000. Leigh drove every aspect of the Club during his tenure as Head Coach and his legacy will be remembered forever by Club members.
Helen Caune was a staunch supporter and member of Nunawading Swimming Club for many years. Helen’s involvement began when her children Andrew and Nicole started swimming with the club in 1991 and continued through to her passing in 2005. Helen was involved as a Committee and Board member and was instrumental in many of the recent changes to the Club’s business systems.
The winners of these trophies must be 15 years or under at the start of the season, and are decided by a secret ballot of the swim committee members of the Nunawading Swimming Club. Voting is in the five areas of:
o Swimming ability,
o Participation in club activities,
o Sportsmanship,
o Popularity
o & Leadership qualities.
BUTLER TROPHIES
Graeme and Clyde Butler were foundation members of this Club in 1960 and were regular members of club teams. In March 1962, whilst swimming for Nunawading High School at the Olympic Pool, Graeme collapsed in the water and died three days later. Twelve months later, Clyde collapsed and died in the water while swimming in the All Schools carnival at the Olympic Pool.
On Graeme's death, and with the permission of his family, a public subscription was invited to honour a swimmer held in such high esteem by his school and friends. This subscription founded the Graeme Butler Trophy for boys.
After Clyde died the following year, surplus subscription funds were handed to the club to provide the Clyde Butler Trophy for girls.
These trophies are the highest possible award to be won by a club member and it is with pride that our club perpetuates the memory of two such fine swimmers and members. John and Val Butler set out the selection criteria for these awards and as you can see, still present the trophies to the winners each day.
The winners of the Butler Trophies must be 16 years or older at the start of the season and are are decided by a secret ballot of the swim committee members of the Nunawading Swimming Club. Voting is in the five areas of:
o Swimming ability,
o Participation in club activities,
o Sportsmanship,
o Popularity
o & Leadership qualities.
