VIRGINIA SWINDELLS & SUE CARRICK – 2004

At our AGM held 14th July, 2004 a motion was moved by Helen Loring and was seconded by Bruce Dunlop nominating Virginia Swindells and Sue Carrick for Life Membership. The minutes reported that “in support of the motion it was noted that although Virginia and Sue had not necessarily held any official positions on the committee they are quiet achievers. They have worked tirelessly behind the scenes over many years, stepping in whenever they saw a need at the finishing desk, in the canteen etc without any fanfare or favour. Motion was carried unanimously”.

Virginia Swindells

Virginia joined our Club with husband, Ron, and their family in 1971 and often crewed for him on his Heron. Later they left CRSC and sailed with the Middle Harbour Herons before returning to the fold in 1983-84. Since then Virginia has been involved in many areas notably as a member of the Finishing Panel almost continuously since 1986 and also serving in the canteen. 

She has been officially listed on the Canteen Committee since the 2000-01 season and can often be found arriving for her duties there between 10 and 11 o’clock of a Saturday morning to prepare rolls etc. Virginia remained on the Canteen Committee until the 2014/15 season, a total of 15 seasons on this Committee. She is also regularly present at various Associations’ events held at our Club to assist wherever she can with the canteen or the finishing or both. 

In 2007-08 she was nominated for the position of Member Protection Officer because with her other duties she was the one member who would know most members and they knew her, and held this position until 2013/14 season. Virginia has been down helping feed the workers on working bee days as well assisting with organising training boats for the school sailing days, Try Sail Days as well as being one of the ladies helping with the meals for our Christmas Party and Presentation Day.

For this 2024/25 season Virginia is still a vital member of the Finishing Panel and is waiting for the boats to finish every Saturday of the season.

Sue Carrick

Sue has a very similar story as Virginia joining our Club in 1974 with her husband, Peter, and their children sailing a Heron. Sue also ended up in the crew’s seat for many afternoons. Sue has been continuously a member of the finishing panel since the 1994-95 season until  the 2017/18 totalling 24 seasons, the latter few seasons she would be there to fill in when other finishers were not available, always a willing hand. Also over the years has been found in the canteen, being listed on the Canteen Committee since 1999. In 2004 she took on the role as Canteen Coordinator and has been responsible for the running and organisation of it since then - ensuring supplies are being ordered and rosters organised. She was on this Committee until the 2018/19 season another long period of 20 years. 

I can repeat that like Virginia, Sue also has been down helping feed the workers on working bee days as well assisting with organising training boats for the school sailing days, Try Sail Days as well as being one of the ladies helping with the meals for our Christmas Party and Presentation Day. Now that her husband Peter, has giving sailing away we do not see either of them very often at the Club these days.

To sum up on these two ladies they have almost been like twins in their work with our Club.