Only a “handful” of Nelson Bay Blue Marlins Swimming Club members remain, and if new blood does not join their ranks soon president Terry O’Brien said they would have no choice but to fold the club.

“We’re all getting a bit long in the tooth now,” he said. “We only get a handful of blokes, about six, each week. We’re only just hanging on.”

The men-only swimming club was founded in 1974. During the years, members have swum in almost every body of water the Tomaree Peninsula has to offer.

Blue Marlins members first swum in the pool at the Shoal Bay country club, then off the wharf . They moved to the 51-yard salt water pool at Nelson Bay marina until it was closed.

From the marina pool, in 1985 members moved to the ocean pool at Shoal Bay, near Tomaree Lodge.

Moving from Shoal Bay, the Marlins swum at Fingal Beach, near the surf club, then Tomaree Aquatic Centre.

Their latest move has brought them back to Shoal Bay, swimming at the beach each Sunday at 9am.

At its height in 1985, the swimming club had 100 members. Now it has 10 on the books.

In the 80s, the Blue Marlins competed at carnivals, state and national championships and even founded the Bay to Breakers 10km marathon run in Port Stephens.

During the years, the club has raised funds for the community. O’Brien believed the amount the club has raised up to $140,000 in the past 40 years.

“Fund-raising was one of our main objectives,” he said. “We’ve raised $30- or $40,000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter alone. We’ve donated a lot of money to the [Tomaree] hospital over the years.”

O’Brien, who has been president of the club for 30 years, and secretary Warren Diemer are life members of the Blue Marlins.

Diemer has been a member of the club since its first year. While he does not swim each week, he does still take part in the other major aspect of the club – socialising.

“I’ve met a lot of fellows over the years, made a lot of friends,” he said. 

Fellow Blue Marlin Brian Armstrong, who has been with the club since 1983, said friendship was just one of the benefits members enjoys.

“Health, lifestyle, friendship are what I get out of it,” he said. “Plus, you’re out enjoying the beautiful foreshore.”

The Blue Marlins swim in summer and winter. They meet on the grass near the public toilets at Shoal Bay Beach each Sunday morning.

Following a swim, which is not mandatory, members enjoy a chat and some soup back on dry land.

The club is for men only. Any man aged 18 and above can join.

Club members will enjoy a break on Sunday, May 20 but will return to the water on May 27.