Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club hosted its annual awards presentation event at Narrabri Aquatic Centre on Monday evening.
The 2025/26 season’s Joanne Barnes swimmer of the year is Charlie-Lea Hulbert.
The club’s most prestigious award remembers Joanne Barnes, who was a committee member of the Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club for more than 10 years before losing her battle with cancer in 2014. Jo was awarded life membership of the Stingrays that year. She was deeply passionate about swimming and the Stingrays community, working tirelessly across all aspects of the club, and she believed strongly in supporting every club activity and always leading by example.
Swimmer of the year award is the club’s highest individual honour, recognising a swimmer who has demonstrated outstanding performance, dedication, and commitment throughout.
This season’s Therese Nairn most improved swimmer is Connor Warnock.
Therese Nairn was a very dedicated coach of the Stingrays, who had a passion for helping swimmers improve and develop a lifelong love of the sport. She was known for encouraging swimmers to keep striving to be their best, both in and out of the water. In honour of Therese’s dedication and lasting impact, this award recognises a young Narrabri Stingrays swimmer who has shown significant improvement throughout the season.
This season’s Beryl Paull Citizenship award winners are Boston Hughes and Florence Melton.
Beryl Paull was a life member who supported the club and its swimmers in many meaningful ways. She played a significant role in teaching many children to swim and taught many of the parents today. She always encouraged people to become part of the club community and she was a strong advocate for teamwork, always promoting the importance of swimmers supporting each other and contributing to the club.
“A wonderful way to celebrate all the hard work, achievements, and memories made throughout the year,” a Narrabri Stingrays club statement said this week.
“We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our 2025/2026 committee for their time, dedication, and behind-the-scenes effort that keeps our club running strong.
“Your commitment does not go unnoticed.
“A big thank you also goes out to our amazing swimmers and the parents who support them week in and week out — rain, shine, early mornings and late nights. You are the heart of our club.
Congratulations to our newly appointed board:
President – Todd Stanford, vice-president – Grace Cuell, treasurer – Rebecca Warnock, secretary – Connie Hughes, publicity officer/sponsorship – Danna Warren, general member – Kat Denniss.
We look forward to another fantastic season ahead with this great team leading the way.”
A full list of Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club award winners for the 2025/26 season is as follows:
Major awards:
Joanne Barnes swimmer of the year – Charlie-Lea Hulbert.
Therese Nairn most improved swimmer – Connor Warnock.
Beryl Paull citizenship – Boston Hughes and Florence Melton.
Encouragement award – Elsie Stanford.
Pointscore champions:
Senior girls’ pointscore champion – Savannah Hughes, senior girls’ pointscore runner-up – Bridie Seymour, senior boys’ pointscore champion – Jedd Stanford, junior girls’ pointscore champion – Charlie-Lea Hulbert, junior girls’ pointscore runner-up – Zara Warnock, junior boys’ pointscore champion – Boston Hughes, junior boys’ pointscore runner-up – Eli Warren, sub-junior girls’ pointscore champion – Florence Cuell, sub-junior girls’ pointscore runner-up – Elsie Stanford, sub-junior boys’ pointscore champion – Connor Warnock, sub-junior boys’ pointscore runner-up – Logan Seymour.
Club records:
Elsie Stanford – 25-metre breaststroke (41.98) previously held by Bella Bakhuis (42.45).
Charlie Lea-Hulbert – 50-metre backstroke (37.77) previously held by Laura Gourley (39.86), 100-metre backstroke (1:26.10) previously held by Laura Gourley (1:28.77), 50-metre freestyle (32.91) previously held by Laura Gourley (33.14), 100-metre freestyle (1:15.04) previously held by Ella Tomlinson (1:15.44).
Swimmers who achieved a 10-second personal best time in any event during the season:
Savannah Hughes, Bridie Seymour, Florence Cuell, Jedd Stanford, Alex Melton, Millie Irwin, Charlie-Lea Hulbert, Elsie Stanford, Elsbeth Denniss and Logan Seymour.
All photos: Danna Warren
