LONG-serving South Esk Swimming Club stalwart and patron Murray Bramich died last week.
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Bramich was remembered at Saturday's time trial in Launceston with a message from South Esk president Jayne Shepherd as the crowd stood and swimmers lined the pool in honour.
Bramich and his late wife Margaret were dedicated parents and loyal members of South Esk, starting when their two daughters Kim and Karen started swimming with the club.
He held various positions on the committee and was rewarded with life membership and a Swimming Tasmania Service Award in 2011.
As a former South Esk president, I personally benefited from the years of swimming wisdom that Bramich possessed.
One of his quotes that I well remember is that ``no one individual is bigger than the club itself''. That same quote, I have since used with other sporting clubs and state associations.
Club life member and former club coach and swimmer Jenny Page remembers Bramich as being the one to go to if you needed to know about the history of the club.
``He had a small, handwritten book with all the details that he kept as club registrar,'' she said.
``Murray would welcome families as they arrived for the weekly club swim nights, and rarely missed a club night or event.''
Page said Bramich was regarded as a great teller of jokes and always had a new one ready, and that he somehow managed to make it seem he was part of it - relating it to his work or family.
He will be missed by past and present members at South Esk.
Open water titles
HELD in ideal conditions with minimal waves, a disappointingly small field of 10 swimmers competed at the weekend Tasmanian open water swimming championships at Seven Mile Beach.
Launceston Aquatic swimmers Tom Curran and Olivia Cullen were two of only three Northern swimmers to compete.
Both swimmers competed in the 5-kilometre events with Curran winning the open and 17-under event.
Cullen was awarded the gold medal in the 13-under race.
The pair qualified to compete at the 2014 national age open water championships to be held next month.
Curran's time of 58 minutes and 18 seconds placed him well ahead of Tim Belstead (Hobart Aquatic) in 59 minutes and 20 seconds, with Jack Fairhurst (Hobart Aquatic) third fastest.
Belstead and Fairhurst also swam national qualifying times.
Two girls competed in the 5-kilometre event.
Emma Fairhurst, 12, (Hobart Aquatic), finished in 1:08.32 - a national qualifying time, but because of her age was not eligible to feature in the results.
Riverside Aquatic swimmer Ray Winstanley was one of only two swimmers to undertake the longer 10-kilometre championship event, finishing in 2:15.44.
Olivia Sanderson (Hutchins Collegiate) competed in the women's 10-kilometre, finishing in 2:24.13.
Coming events:
Saturday, January 18: Time trial (Hobart).
Saturday, January 25: Time trial (Launceston).
Saturday, February 1: Time trial (Hobart).