Finding community in Melbourne’s LGBTI swimming club
Image: Glamourhead Sharks. Image: Supplied.
When they鈥檙e not in the water or frocking up in drag, the Glamourhead Sharks have their eyes set on the Paris Gay Games next year. Jess Jones caught up with the team to find out more.
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Melbourne鈥檚 LGBTI swim club, the Glamourhead Sharks, has it all – competition, socialising, and even a cheeky bit of drag.
Paul Whelan has been involved with club, affectionately known as the Glams, for about four years.
鈥淚 was swimming with a couple of friends and looking for something a little bit more structured,鈥� says Whelan.
鈥淚 wanted to improve my swimming and I was also looking for an alternative to 鈥榯he scene鈥�, and a friend recommended the Glams to me.鈥�
The club is made up of swimmers of all ages from early twenties to almost 80 years old.
Whelan says the club is a real cross-section of the queer community, and that he has so much in common with the other members.
鈥淚鈥檝e never experienced any other kind of forum where I might be having dinner after training with a 21-year-old guy and a 61-year-old woman, having so much in common, and actually learning a lot about people that way,鈥� he says.
Whelan says the club focuses on both competition and socialising, and there is a big social element to competing, especially when the club travels together. They participate in national and international swimming competitions, including the Gay Games and Out Games.
鈥淭his year we went to the Out Games in Miami, and next year we鈥檙e going to the Gay Games in Paris,鈥� says Whelan.
鈥淥ur long-term focus for training is looking at Paris now. It鈥檚 so much fun, going on a holiday with 12 of your mates!鈥�
Whelan speaks highly of the club coaches and says he鈥檚 confident the team will be more than prepared for the Gay Games. They鈥檙e stepping up their training to include an extra weekly session, and working on raising funds to cover the cost.
The Glams鈥� next fundraiser event is a trivia night on Saturday September 23. The theme of the night is glamour, of course, and it will be hosted by drag power couple Johnny Gash and Donatella Wyfe鈥擶helan鈥檚 alter ego.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to bring an element of fun to the hosting of the night,鈥� he says.
Representatives from some of the other queer sporting clubs will put on a drag show at the trivia night.
鈥淲e鈥檝e found there鈥檚 always somebody willing to don a dress and a wig and make a fool of themselves for the purposes of everyone鈥檚 entertainment,鈥� laughs Whelan.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always keen to dress up and be silly.鈥�
Check out the Melbourne Glamourheads on for more information about the club and its trivia night.
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