Carnival an opportunity to connect poolside

Splashes rippled across the ADFA pool as swimmers took to the water for the ADF Swimming Carnival on September 30.

The carnival was an opportunity for swimmers of all experience levels to compete, reconnect with the sport and meet new people.

It was the first ADF Swim Sports event held under the club’s banner since it was established in late 2025.

MIDN James Robertson said it offered the chance to return to an environment he had missed since enlisting.

He started swimming at the age of three and said the event provided an opportunity to reconnect with his passion while competing close to home.

“I've missed the swimming environment, and being so close to where I live here at ADFA is really convenient,” MIDN Robertson said.

“It proved to be a great opportunity to get around other members that were equally swimming-minded.”

The carnival also attracted members returning to competitive swimming after extended breaks.

For FLTLT Grace Moffat, it was the first time she had competed in five years.

“It was really encouraging to see everybody supporting one another throughout the evening and just the strong sense of teamwork,” she said.

For MAJ Lucas Liew, a psychologist with Joint Health Command, the value of the carnival extended beyond competition.

He said participation in sport supported wellbeing by encouraging members to stay active, build meaningful connections and pursue personal goals.

“There’s benefit to having that social support in place,” he said.

“Swimming can provide a platform for people to socially engage because it’s a mutual activity that they might find interesting and other people find interesting too.”

National manager of ADF Swim Sports WGCDR Janelle Ahern said the carnival was as much about participation as competition and reflected the club’s efforts to grow awareness of swimming opportunities.

“We pitched this meet as a friendly, low-key, no-pressure, supportive way for people to get back into swimming,” WGCDR Ahern said.

She said organisers hoped future carnivals would attract more participants as awareness of ADF Swim Sports continued to grow.

“It’s about creating more opportunities for personnel to connect through swimming and enjoy the benefits of sport in a supportive environment,” she said.