Moree Amateur Swimming Club’s Emily Di Donna has been selected to represent the region as a member of the Swimming NSW Youth Advisory Panel.
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After attending the inaugural Swimming NSW Lane Ropes to Leadership Youth Leadership Camp with fellow Moree swimmer Josh Elbourne in October last year, Emily decided to take up the opportunity to apply to be a member of the panel.
“They sent out an email to everyone from the country areas who attended to put together a video or presentation as to why they want to be on the panel and how being on the panel will help their club,” Emily said.
“So I put a slide together and I got selected.”
On the panel of 18, which consists of Swimming NSW members aged 13 to 19 years, Emily is one of only two regional swimmers.
The other is Inverell’s Rowan Cowley, while the rest of the panel is made up of metropolitan swimmers.
Previously, the Youth Advisory Panel was made up of only teenagers from Sydney-metro clubs but this year the opportunity was extended to regional clubs.
The panel will meet regularly – mostly over Skype, with a couple of face-to-face meetings – to develop strategies to keep swimmers aged 12 to 19 engaged in the sport.
“It’s to try and keep older swimmers swimming,” Emily said.
“A lot of members leave at the age of 13 and then there’s another drop at the age of 16.”
The panel also hopes to bring a number of the Lane Ropes to Leadership camps to regional areas, and as a member, Emily will get to help run them.
She said she’s looking forward to meeting everyone and is proud to represent her club and region.
“It’s good for country kids to have a say,” she said.
“Being this far from Sydney and getting to be on the panel is great.”
Moree Amateur Swimming Club secretary Tammy Elbourne said the club is very proud of Emily.
“It’s incredible considering there’s only 18 members,” she said.
“This is not just about getting in the water and swimming but being a good sport, a team leader and committed to something.
“This panel liaises with the Swimming NSW Board to make recommendations, so it’s a very big honour.
“We’re really proud of her and sure she will do a great job. She will have a voice for girls, swimmers and kids throughout the region.
“Hopefully she’ll be able to bring some new things back to implement in the club.”