Our Committee

I am the recently appointed President of Wharenui Swimming Club. I have been back associated with the club and on the committee since our move back from Wellington in 2014.

My involvement with Wharenui stems back to my competitive swimming days in the 80’s. I had the pleasure of competing at several Wharenui Winter’s, competed at Div 2’s and my mother was also an active member of the committee, so it is a huge honour to now take the reins of our clubs rich history as NZ’s oldest swimming club.

I work full time as the Sales Manager of a large building company and are very proud to be contributing to the residential rebuild of our amazing city Ōtautahi. I also form part of the Canterbury senior leadership team for our branch.

I have been blessed with 3 daughters who have all swum competitively and represented team Wharenui at national meets, one is still swimming competitively and her twin sister also teachers here as a learn to swim instructor.  I am also actively involved poolside managing our swimmers at regional and national swimming competitions as I love being the number one cheerleader and witnessing our teams amazing achievements.

I have been involved with the Wharenui Swimming Club for the past eight years, initially joining as a parent of a junior swimmer who has progressed from the learn to swim program right through to the competitive squads. Over the years, I have taken on various volunteer roles, including  timekeeper, team manager, IOT, and committee member, before stepping into my current role as secretary.

With a background in teaching and community development I am passionate about fostering a sense of community within the club, connecting swimmers and their families, and supporting them to thrive in their swimming journey.

With six years of involvement in our swimming club, I currently serve as Treasurer. My professional background as a Chartered Accountant and Lawyer strengthens my ability to support the club with accounting, finance, and legal matters. I bring extensive experience in budgeting and cash flow management, ensuring sound financial governance, as well as expertise in drafting policies, procedures and developing governance frameworks—all contributing to the club’s long-term success.

Additionally, I am a regular volunteer at swim meets, serving as a timekeeper, IOT or team manager. As a mum of two, I am passionate about fostering a positive, well-organised environment where all swimmers can thrive.

Craig and his family joined Wharenui at the start of 2023. He has two boys one of whom is a competitive swimmer. Craig is a qualified Inspector of Turns and Judge of Stroke and enjoys representing the club whenever he can. Craig joined the committee at the 2024 AGM. Originally from the United Kingdom he is a Civil Engineer now based in Christchurch

I have four children currently swimming with Wharenui - three in squads, and one in learn to swim. The children have been swimming with the club since we moved to Christchurch in January 2023, and love the friendly environment and team spirit within the club. I am not a swimmer myself, but have enjoyed being involved with the sport as a cheerleader for my kids, an official at swim meets, a club team manager, and now as a committee member. Despite only being involved with the Club for two years, I have met loads of wonderful people within the Club and the wider Canterbury Swimming community, and look forward to a long association with the sport of swimming.

Other than managing four children, I work as a lawyer here in Christchurch, and when time allows I enjoy getting out for a run, walk or bike ride with my dog.

As a recent addition to the WSC Committee, my aim is to provide whatever practical support I can to those leading the Club’s growth and success. After a career in senior management with a long standing, privately owned NZ company, I hope to contribute skills that add to the collective effort driving Club and Stadium complex forward. 

I enjoy a beer, the odd dram or two and do my best to live an active lifestyle. However, I am proudest to say that my single greatest achievement in life is being a father to 5 daughters. My youngest has been a member of the Wharenui Swim Club squad system since April 2023, and like her fellow squad members and friends, continues to thrive under the Clubs’ professional coaching and management structure. 

As i think back over my 70+ years as a member of Wharenui, and it has been a fantastic journey, the one thing that keeps coming to the top is the interactions that I have had with hundreds of wonderful people. My primary involvement was with water polo, from learner levels to NZ teams, but I have loved the Club’s swim programmes and swimmers.

It has been a privilege for me to represent Wharenui in teams, as a coach, on committees, as a delegate and as Patron. From the fun we had as kids in the original Coronation Pool through to today’s pools, I enjoy sharing memories. We have a very special club.

Long may it continue! 

Murray McGirr

I became involved with the Wharenui swim club in 2021 when my niece joined the squads. Having spent over 10 years as a competitive swimmer in South Africa and a stint in the USA I have always loved the sport and its been a privilege to continue to share this passion with my niece. Over the past few years, with the excellent coaching at Wharenui and with the core values the club has, I have been honored to watch my niece and her teammates grow, not just as swimmers but also in their sportsmanship.

I have enjoyed through Wharenui, becoming an IOT and committee member, getting the opportunity to continue my involvement in the swimming community. 

When I'm not supporting poolside, I work as a physiotherapist at the hospital.