Hey Stingers! 

The countdown is on: our club is completing our Financial and Membership Year in 7 days on 31 August, with a bright and busy year ahead, including

• Member Renewals and this year's AGM dates and announcements will be going out soon (watch for them);
• INTRA and Metro are finishing with great results on the way (fingers crossed for those competing in Finals);
• our brand new clock and scoreboard system will be arriving to Gunyama (making us ready to host even more games at our home pool...); and,
• there are HUGE events happening for us in the next 12-16 months at home and abroad.

We really want you to be a part of any (and all) of it, so please read on below, watch out for announcements and buckle up and get ready for the forthcoming Stingers 2023 Year of Polo. 

Member Renewals commence from 1 September

With the end of our Financial Year, Membership Renewal is required before you can be back in the water for training or competition. After INTRA and Metro finish in the next week we will have a small break from training to provide you an opportunity to renew your membership. You must renew before you can register and jump back in the water at Club training and games. Our Full Member fees are $35 per month (excl pool entry and WPA fees); less than half the cost of many other clubs in the league. We have payment plan options available if you'd like to spread your fees out, and if you are under financial stress please contact James Wade or Bianca Couchman to discuss options. We want you to stay connected to our community and in the water, so let's chat. 

AQuA Festival registration opens soon: register for updates today! 

The Australian Queer Aquatics (AQuA) Festival registration is opening soon!

Scheduled over 2 weeks from 18 Feb - 3 Mar 2023, AQuA comprises:

• a Beach Festival with ocean swimming, beach water polo and social events;
• a water polo tournament with both a comp and rec division;
• a swimming competition; 
• a Finals Festival day with incredible social events, including an exclusive Closing Party for AQuA participants on The Island in the Harbour.

We will be confirming commitment and teams for Stingers entries in the next few weeks. Watch out for a post in Stingers Members. 

AQuA is going to be a fabulous time to promote our clubs and sports during Sydney World Pride in February 2023! Register for updates at aquafest.org.au, and if you want to get involved reach out to Nathan Collett (events@sydneystingers.org.au).

2023 is the Year of Polo: Join the Swarm!

2023 is a HUGE year for champagne water polo, and a great opportunity to get back out there and see the world.

We have an upcoming Rainbow Grudge Match in November in Perth, followed by 3 major competitions across 2023 and will be able to enter up to 2 or 3 teams in each across both comp and rec divisions:

1. Perth Rainbow Grudge Match | 18-20 Nov 2022: Perth White Pointers have invited us and our sister clubs, the Melbourne Surge and Brisbane Tritons, to go west for sunsets on the beach and polo! We will be confirming our teams once we have everyone's commitment they are coming! Commit to coming with this form, RSVP at the Facebook event, and book your flights and acomm!

2. SYDNEY AQuA Festival Water Polo Comp | 18 Feb, 1-3 Mar 2023 (as part of World Pride): Stingers and Wett Ones are co-hosting the Australian Queer Aquatics Festival - a 5-sport beach and aquatic festival during World Pride! There will be a beach festival with ocean swimming and beach water polo (and more) on 18 Feb and an LGBTQ+ inclusive water polo competition from 1-3 Mar with both a competitive and recreational division.

3. LONDON IGLA Championships | 26-30 Jun 2023: During London Pride and right ahead of many Pride celebrations across Europe, the London Out to Swim and Orcas are hosting the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics Championships next year! We anticipate high interest in this comp, and should be able to send team numbers to match club interest. Huge thanks to Fabian, Chris, Angus and Jem for coordinating our entries and pre- or post-trip tours for this comp! If you aren't in the loop please reach out to Fabian Navarro. 

4. GUADALAJARA Gay Games 11 | 3-11 Nov 2023: GayGames is back! After an incredible time in 2018 when nearly 60 Stingers swarmed Paris, we are in for a treat with the GayGames 11 water polo to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Be a part of the Olympics of queer sport and join us in sunny Guadalajara. Huge thanks to Fabian, Chris, Angus and Jem for coordinating our entries and pre- or post-trip tours for this comp! If you aren't in the loop please reach out to Fabian Navarro. 

We may partner with our sister clubs to coordinate teams. There are also opportunities for pre-and post-Stingers Tours, if there is sufficient interest to plan these.

We have already sought interest in these comps from across the club. We are now looking to confirm teams and will be seeking commitment to any and all of these comps in the coming 2-3 months. Be on the watch and ready to respond, and look out for your flights! 

2022 Trivia was a success!

I am proud to say we raised over $9000 for the club from our Trivia Night on 31 July, with a nearly full room and heaps of fun! A huge thanks to those that helped to organise the event, including James Wade, James Reynolds, Alex Lau, Annie Wylie and everyone that showed up early, stayed late or helped on (or for) the night! Trivia is vitally important to our club's operations and we appreciate the effort put in (and enjoyed) by everyone in getting the word out and delivering a great night!

Key Dates Coming Up

• 28 Aug 22: INTRA Season 3 Finals

• 30/31 Aug 22: Metro Winter Season Finals (w/ M5 currently on track to compete)

• 31 Aug 22: Membership year ends, renewals start

• 25 Sep 22: Club AGM

• 18 Oct 22: Metro Summer Season starts (TBC)

• 18-20 Nov 22: Perth Rainbow Grudge Match

And don't forget to check the Training Calendar for up-to-date info about training each week, including Thursday swim squad, our Friday night swim training with the Wett Ones, Saturday skills training and Sunday All In!

See you in the water 💦

Ben Thomas

Club President