The 12th annual Kieser Great Australia Day Swim was held on 26 January 2022 with over 870 swimmers across three swim events.
The event is run in association with the Brighton Lifesaving Club at Middle Brighton Beach and participation has grown since the first event in 2010.
The three swim events were the 2.5km and 1.4km Open Water Swims, and the 650m Intermediate Swim. Around half of the participating swimmers were first-time attendees
The event Patron was Olympian Mack Horton and extreme triathlete John Van Wisse was an Event Ambassador.
The event has become established as a major event on the Victorian Open Water Swim calendar and a significant Bayside Australia Day community event.
Fundraising
The Rotary Club of Brighton raised a net $40,000 from the event, which is being distributed to Rotary charities – including the Brighton Lifesaving Club and the BayCISS Education Support program. The BayCISS program supports students from disadvantaged families in the Bayside area by helping fund essential school expenses.
Sponsors and supporters
Our major event sponsor is Kieser Australia, a network of integrated physiotherapy, rehabilitation and strength training centres. Kieser provided complimentary massages at their event tent to swimmers.
Event sponsors included Jellis Craig, Nichols Crowder and Bayside City Council.
Bayside City Council cleaned the beach, closed the Baths car park, and provided a sponsorship of the event. The Mayor represented Bayside City Council at the awards ceremony.
The Brighton Life Saving Club arranged the course layout and provided water safety, with 10 IRB rescue boats and 15 rescue boards, and around 45 lifesavers.
Royal Brighton Yacht Club closed their marina, provided access to their yard and provided a beach rinse-down showers.
Multisport Australia supplied the Finish Gate, and timing clock, operated the electronic timing system and provided online results on the event website and by text messages to swimmers.
The Baths Restaurant provided their staff and facilities to provide food for swimmers and spectators and to entertain sponsors and guests.
The Brighton Baths Health Club and the Baths Restaurant provided major event prizes and additional event prizes were donated by Engine.
Jellis Craig provided gelati ice cream for spectators.
South East Water provided a mobile water fountain, adjacent to the beach and Finish for swimmers and spectators.
Event Major Sponsor
Event Sponsors
Event Supporters
