The Lismore Memorial Baths will host swimmers from far and wide on Saturday, 15 November, as the Lismore Workers Swim Team (LWST) holds its Annual Long Course Qualifying Carnival - the final opportunity in the Northern Rivers for swimmers to secure qualifying times for the Division 1 Championships in Grafton, to be held 22-23 November 2025.

For many Lismore swimmers, this carnival marks the culmination of months of training and determination, as they want to swim their best-ever times in ‘home water’, with their friends cheering them on. With 12 LWST swimmers already qualified for the Division 1 event, the club is aiming to see even more earn their place at one of the region’s most competitive meets.

“The Lismore Carnival is the last chance to grab those qualifying times, so there’s a great sense of energy and focus,” said Kerie Seymour [Senior Coach]. “Our swimmers have worked incredibly hard this season, and this carnival gives them the chance to show just how far they’ve come. It also gives many of our new swimmers a chance to try racing for the first time”

Whilst the immediate goal is Division 1 in Grafton, LWST is also setting its sights on an even bigger milestone - the NSW Country Championships in Sydney, February 2026. Since the 2022 floods, the club hasn’t sent a team to this major state-level event, but that goal is now within reach.

“We’ve got around 8 swimmers who have already qualified, or are very close,” said Kerrie Seymour [Senior Coach]. “Getting a team back to Sydney would be a powerful moment for our swimmers and our community - it’s a sign of how far we’ve rebuilt and how bright the future looks.”

Since 2022, the Lismore Workers Swim Team has rebuilt its membership base, becoming a symbol of community strength and resilience. In recognition of these efforts, in July the Club was shortlisted as a finalist for Regional Club of the Year at Swimming NSW’s inaugural Awards ceremony. Hosting this carnival is another step forward for the club.

“This carnival is about more than just racing,” said Club President, Gary Dardengo “It’s about our community coming together - to support our kids, to celebrate their effort, and to show what’s possible when we keep believing in Lismore. The kids need to have a home carnival to be proud of, and we hope the local swimming community shows solidarity by bringing their teams to Lismore”

The 2025 Lismore Qualifying Carnival is sponsored by Summit Swim & Aquatic.

“We’re especially proud to support this carnival because so many of the swimmers competing began their journey learning to swim with us,” said Matt George, Owner of Summit Swim & Aquatic. “Seeing them now represent Lismore and chase qualifying times is incredibly rewarding; it’s a real celebration of how local programs and clubs can work together to help young people thrive.”

Race entries are now open via the Swim Central website:  https://swimcentral.swimming.org.au/

For more information, visit the Lismore Workers Swim Team Facebook page at facebook.com/lwstswimming.