Brighton Icebergers Explained

The Brighton Icebergers or Brighton Icebergs are an Australian swimming team based at the Baths Health Club in Brighton, Victoria. They swim in the sea pool in the early morning, when the water temperature can be as low as 7C.^{[1] [2]} A larger contingent swims at the nearby Royal Brighton Yacht Club in the open waters of Port Phillip Bay,^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Their swims include a weekly Sunday 1.4km (00.9miles) "inside no-brainer" alongside Middle Brighton pier,^[8] and have organized annual competitive events including the 2km (01miles) John Locco Winter Invitational, the Greg Fountain Winter Pier to Pub,^[9] the Iceberger World Championship of the Bay Swim, and the Olsen Hooper Summer Handicap Swim, and awarded an Iceberger International Swimmer of the Year.

History

The club's long-time organizer is former school teacher John Locco, elected to Brighton Council in 1984 when the Brighton swimming baths had been in danger of closing, and later served as Mayor as well getting into a fist-fight with Baths Manager Mark Greene.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120463986/ He is said to have founded the club in the 1980s,^{[10] [11]} but swims were already taking place in the 1950s. In 2015 the Royal Brighton Yacht Club caused a dispute by seeking to formalize governance of the Icebergers.^[12]

Media

British-Australian comedian David Brooks made a comic documentary about the group in 2013, originally titled Discovering the Icebergers and later An Iceberger with the Lot: From Bury to Brighton.^{[13] [14]} Another documentary about the group, titled Icebergers and directed by Darcy Newton, won best documentary at the 2020 Melbourne Indie Film Festival.^{[15] [16]}

Don Warner's Beyond The Tip: Tales of the Icebergers of Brighton was published in 2019.^[17]

Notable swimmers

• Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria from 2010 to 2013^{[8] [12] [11]}
• David Brooks, comedian^[18]
• Dan Canta, who joined the club at 13^[11] and at 17 became the youngest male to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming^[19]
• Max Hudghton, former player for St Kilda Football Club^[2]
• Stewart Loewe, former player for St Kilda Football Club^[2]
• Andrew Robb, former Liberal politician^[1]
• John Van Wisse, swimmer and trainer^[19]

External links

• Brighton Icebergers at Royal Brighton Yacht Club
• Icebergers at Brighton Baths Health Club Sea Baths & Gymnasium

-37.9102°N 144.9849°W

Notes and References

1. News: No winter of discontent for Icebergers lured to the sea . John . Elder . 10 July 2010. The Age . 25 December 2020 .
2. News: Margaret . Burin . In pictures: The icy addiction of swimming in winter. 22 July 2015. 3 October 2016 . 25 December 2020 . ABC News.
3. News: Icebergers taking the heat of competition. Clay. Lucas. 11 December 2005. The Age . 25 December 2020 .
4. News: Nicole . Precel . 10 ways to know you're a real Melbourne Baysider . Bayside Leader . 14 January 2014 . 25 December 2020 . Herald Sun .
5. News: Brighton Icebergers: What it's like to swim in the bay at dawn . Herald Sun . 6 July 2019 . (Subscription required).
6. https://brighton-icebergers.org.au/our-history Our History
7. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.9094471,144.984788,16.5z Royal Brighton Yacht Club and Brighton Baths Health Club
8. News: Nick Leys . Brighton Iceberger, next Premier? Ted Baillieu says he's 'there are lots of votes still out there' . Herald Sun . 28 November 2010 . 3 January 2021 .
9. Web site: Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Parliament of Victoria . 17 November 2004 . 1643 .
10. https://oceanfit.com.au/john-locco/ Ep #005 – John Locco
11. Web site: Brighton Icebergers youngest recruit Den Canta, 13, plunges in . Herald Sun . 24 April 2013 . 2018-09-05.
12. News: Peter . Mickelburough . Icebergers and yacht club in battle of Brighton . Herald Sun . 2 May 2015 . 25 December 2020 .
13. Web site: Icebergers with the Lot – Video Shoot Melbourne . MediaLight Studios . 25 June 2013 . 25 December 2020 .
14. News: Karl . Quinn . An Iceberger with the lot, from Red Faces to cold feet . The Sydney Morning Herald . 28 August 2013 . 25 December 2020 .
15. Web site: Winner: Best documentary . Facebook . Melbourne Indie Film Festival . 27 August 2020 .
16. Web site: Melbourne Indie Film Festival 2020 – Award Winners Short Films . March 2020 . 25 December 2020 .
17. Web site: Tales of the Icebergers – Podcast . Southern FM . March 2019 . 25 December 2020 .
18. News: Mark . Richardson . Straight from the Heart: Brooksy Is Out There . Melbourne Observer . 18 July 2012 . 4 .
19. News: Jon . Andrews . Brighton Iceberger Dan Canta is making waves, taking out the Triple Crown of endurance swimming . Bayside Leader . Herald Sun . 15 October 2016 . 25 December 2020 .