On February 18th, Lakeside Leisure Centre partnered with Port Stephens Council and Port Stephens Pools to run an Aquathon in an attempt to break the world record of 254 participants at a single aqua aerobics class.

The Aquathon was a part of National Seniors Week and included a free sausage sizzle prepared by the Raymond Terrace Lions Club. The cost to participate was $15 per person and all funds raised from the event went towards the Soldiers Point Rural Fire Service.

There was a huge turnout on the day, with over 140 participants eager to break the previous world record. The event brought the whole community together; locals donated their time, bakeries donated 15 loaves of freshly baked bread, butchers donated over 300 sausages, and the Raymond Terrace Lions Club cooked and served the sausages while also serving up tea and coffee to local volunteers and staff preparing for the event.

Local RFS representatives volunteered their time to help with registrations, setting up shade tents, drinks tables and market tables embracing Seniors Week. “It was not just some of us, it was the sum of us that celebrated NSW Seniors Festival and helped support our Lower Hunter Rural Fire Service,” said Nicole Dunn, Northern NSW Area Manager for Belgravia Leisure. “We had lifeguards, swim teachers, kiosk staff and managers all embracing the record breaking attempt by jumping into the 50-metre Olympic pool to participate and increase attendance numbers.

Other fundraising events included a raffle with goods donated from local businesses, bringing the total amount  raised to $1700 which will go towards replacing the set of UHF radios at Soldier’s Point that were damaged in the recent fires.