Life Membership: Graeme Geldart (2025)

Graeme Geldart’s extensive involvement in the early development of our Club spans 50 years of active membership from 1970-2020 and as demonstrated below, we believe his contributions should be recognised with the awarding of Life Membership of Cronulla Sutherland Water Polo Club.

As an elite athlete, Graeme was an accomplished swimmer and water polo player. In 1972, he represented Cronulla-Sutherland Water Polo Club as a 17 year-old in the NSW U18 team at the inaugural Australian Championships before continuing to represent in four NSW Open Men’s teams at the Australian Championships, winning three gold and one silver medal.

Following Graeme’s representative years, he continued to concentrate on his club-based play. He was a member of the  very successful Cronulla 1st grade men’s team for nine seasons from 1972 until 1986 during which he was also a member of the successful Cronulla Men’s team at the Australian Club Championships from 1975 to 1982. Throughout this playing period Graeme won the club’s perpetual trophies for Best and Fairest player in Men’s 2nd Grade and the Ray Wilkerson Cup for Most Valuable Player.

Throughout these top-level competitive playing seasons and beyond, Graeme took an active role in the Club’s administration, simultaneously holding the posts of Secretary and Treasurer during some particularly lean financial seasons. In 1990, Graeme was instrumental in procuring significant funding which enabled the club to enter our inaugural squad in the new Men’s National League competition.

Additionally, from 1975-2020, Graeme held the following committee positions - Social Secretary, Publicity Officer (Media), Public Officer and served for 15 seasons on the Social Committee, prior to the change of committee structure. As our Public Officer, Graeme’s advice as a lawyer, was valued by the committee on numerous occasions. 

For 14 seasons from 1976-1989, Graeme was an active and successful coach across both Men’s and Women’s Cronulla teams, mostly with the 1st and 2nd grade squads, however he also coached our Men’s 6th and 7th grade teams. During his coaching period, Graeme also served as a division 1 Men’s and Women’s Selector for three of our most successful seasons. 

Today, Graeme can be found poolside at Sutherland, quietly supporting our Australian Water Polo League teams and reminiscing with past teammates about how the game has changed and “what great players they all were”!

Nominated by: Jenny Liessmann