Once upon a time, pool-side at Parkes, a dolphin and a shark slipped into a conversation that flowed around their shared love of the water.

Their friendship developed swimmingly.

One thing led to another and the shark and the dolphin realised that they could make a bigger splash if they pooled their resources.

So Flippers Social Swimming Club has become part of the Parkes Sharks Swimming Club in the interests of streamlined administration.

Flippers will continue to meet on Tuesday evenings.

Remember, all Flippers, we start at 7pm on the 7th and then each Tuesday at 7 thereafter.

Flippers aims to promote good health through non-competitive swimming.

Membership of Flippers does not require any standard of swimming ability.

Slow swimmers do not hold the team back because the novelty prizes go to the team that swims closest to their estimated time rather than the fastest team.

Usually, a Flippers swimming session takes between and hour and an hour and half.

The Flippers swim starts with a warm-up novelty event, in teams.

After the teams event, Flippers often record individual times over 50 metres.

Flippers then swim laps at our own individual pace for 15, 20 or sometimes 30 minutes.

Talking, walking and resting at the shallow end of the pool during laps are all allowed.

Flippers membership for the 2008-2009 season will be $66.50 per person.

The executive of Flippers investigated all the options for the future of the club with great care.

So, calling all Flippers, hopefully those cosies, towels and goggles are all together in the same sports bag somewhere in the house.

Pool entry is $3 for adults, children, pensioners and spectators.

A single adult season ticket costs $ 142.50.

The single pensioner season ticket costs $70.

A family season ticket costs $235.50 per family (the ‘family’ is defined as up to any two 2 adults in the family, and up to 4 children of the immediate family).

Family tickets are not transferrable and the family members covered by the ticket must be nominated in advance).

New Flippers are welcome. You just need to be over 18 to join.

At Flippers swimmers find an encouraging atmosphere.

Every so often, after our swim, Flippers stay for a barbeque at the pool.

If you have ever felt curious about Flippers the start of the season is the best time to take the plunge.