The main aim of the NSW Country Regional Meets is to give upcoming swimmers an opportunity to compete against each other at events which are held in various parts of regional NSW. 

Three Country Regional Meets are run simultaneously at various venues in the Country areas across the same weekend. 

This year, the meets will also serve as the last chance to qualify for the 2016 NSW State Age Championships.

Swimming NSW chief executive officer, Mark Heathcote, explained how this joint venture between Moree Plains Shire Council and Swimming NSW would provide the swimmers of Moree and their coaches a fantastic opportunity to compete at their own Country Regional Meet. 

“The involvement of Moree Plains Shire Council in supporting Moree Swimming Club greatly strengthened the club’s bid and now the people and swimmers of Moree have been rewarded with the hosting rights to one of these exciting meets,” Heathcote said. 

“Moree will see hundreds of athletes and their families making the trip to the meet which will not only provide the swimmers of Moree with a stronger pool of competition for their ongoing development, but also present an excellent tourism opportunity for visitors to explore all Moree has to offer,” he said.

“The involvement of the council in conjunction with the swimming club puts the meet in great stead to be one of the most successful Country Regional Meets of the year.” . 

Moree Plains Shire Council economic development officer, Mark Connolly, is enthusiastic to see how the community can benefit when everyone works together. 

“The event will see approximately 350 competitors plus their families visit Moree and create economic opportunities for a variety of local businesses,” Connolly said. 

“The meet has the potential to inject over $1.5 million into the local economy and council was excited to sponsor the event and promote the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre to a broad audience,” he added. 

“The Moree Artesian Aquatics Centre (MAAC) also sees this as an amazing opportunity to not only support the Moree Amateur Swimming Club, but to showcase Moree and the MAAC in particular to swimmers and their families from the surrounding regions,” MAAC chief operating officer, Julie Rushby, said.

“After all it is these events and the attraction of people to Moree that inspired MAAC’s redevelopment,” she said. 

Tourism Moree CEO, Tammy Elbourne, is also excited about the announcement and is keen to work with Swimming NSW, Moree Amateur Swimming Club and the MAAC to ensure all visitors to the Moree Plains have a fantastic time, while visiting.  

“We will be working with all parties including our local accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes, and local attractions to provide competitors and their families with all the information they need,” Elbourne said.

“Events such as the Swimming NSW Country Regional Meet are extremely valuable to the local economy, and our community looks forward to welcoming all families to the shire in January next year,” she said.

An increase in the Moree Amateur Swimming Club membership and representative swimmers was one the deciding factors for the MASC to nominate for the right to host this event. 

“It is a great opportunity for our club to not only to showcase the facilities we have, but also give our members the opportunity to compete in a regional carnival in our own pool where many families and friends can come along and watch and witness the talents of our upcoming swimmers,” club president, David Devney, said.

“With the dedication of the current committee and support from other community organisations we are sure it will be an event not to be missed,” he added.

Wagga Wagga Swimming Club will also host a Swimming NSW Country Regional Meet the same weekend, with one venue still to be announced.