AD Water Polo Association

The Very Beginning, 1981- 1983

Approval was given by the NSW Inter Service Sports Council and the Australian Defence Force Sports Council (ADFSC) for a NSW Combined Services Water Polo Team to tour New Zealand in 1981. During the tour, the possibility of further international competitions, which would include United States participation, was discussed. On return to Australia, a request was received for a British Water Polo team to tour Australia. A subsequent request for a competition between UK, USA, NZ and Australian teams was rejected by the ADFSC because there was no recognized national association. In giving approval for a Combined Services Water Polo Competition between NSW and VIC 24th to the 26th of March 1983, the ADFSC advised that no further competitions would be approved without the formation of a national association.

Some of the participants at this competition were major contributors to the administration of Service Water Polo and formed the heart of the NSW and VIC Associations. Consequently, they utilized the opportunity to hold an inaugural meeting of the Australian Services Water Polo Association (ASWPA) on the 25 March 1983.

The Chairman of the ADFSC requested that FLTLT Ron Carney form the ASWPA.As a result of this request the Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland Water Polo Associations all submitted constitutions to the ADFSC with the other states to follow shortly. From information provided by Captain Mick Defina and the three State Associations, FLTLT Carney drafted an ASWPA Constitution. Additionally, the Victorian Services Water Polo Association (VSWPA) proposed the acceptance of certain serving Service personnel to form the inaugural ASWPA Management Committee. The VSWPA proposal was accepted at the meeting held at Randwick NSW on 25 March 1983.

The first Committee consisted of:

President: WNGCMDR Bob Hammond (RAAF)

Secretary: CAPT Michael Defina (ARMY)

Treasurer: FLTLT Ron Carney (RAAF)

Members: MAJ Gavin O’Connell (ARMY)

CPOQMG Graeme Mustow (NAVY)

POWTW Maurie Woods (NAVY)

The Interservice carnival was contested by NSW and VIC only as QLD was unable to attend due to their Interservice running over the same dates. The results of the first Interservice carnival were as follows:

Game 1 NSW 8 – VIC 4

Game 2 VIC 8 - NSW 7

Game 3 VIC 9 – NSW 9

So the first official Interservice ended in a tie. From this series the Inaugural Australian Combined Services Water Polo Team was selected although no tour was as yet planned. It was decided that the dates for the Interstate Carnival for 1984 be 17-20 Mar 84, with a proposal for an international competition (possible NZ and USA) to be conducted at Randwick 22-24 Mar 84. From here the ASWPA Constitution and Committee were submitted to the ADFSC and subsequently ratified and the ASWPA was up and running.