Rackley Swimming is so excited to step into the Tobruk Memorial Baths Pool and continue to support and grow the Squad program. Squad swimming is a great way to develop lifelong skills, refine technique and most importantly, be safe and have fun in the water. Rackley Squad Programs caters for all abilities and focuses on developing each swimmer to reach their potential and love of the sport. Training sessions will provide swimmers with the skills and stamina needed to set their sights on competing at their chosen level, whether it’s local, regional, School, Masters, or National level.
The Squad program at Tobruk is led by Head Coach Steve O’Brien and supported by Coaches Luc Senet and Melissa Moormann. Our coaches are well-established in the world of swimming, supporting athletes from their first experience in a squad through to National athletes. Rackley Squad Swimming Tobruk caters its programs to swimmers at all levels and abilities, focusing on long-term success, achievement, and enjoyment of the sport.
Luc Senent is one of North Queensland’s most respected swim coaches, with more than 35 years of experience developing swimmers at every level of the sport. A former coach at Gardens Swimming Club and a long-time leader at Townsville Tourist Swim Club and Tobruk Pool, Luc has deep ties to both the Townsville swimming community and Long Tan Memorial Pool, where his coaching journey first began. Mentored by renowned Olympic coaches Laurie Lawrence and Ken Woods, Luc has built successful programs and guided swimmers to state and national success while maintaining a strong focus on athlete development and enjoyment of the sport.
Ziggi Jacks is a results-oriented swim coach with a proven track record of improving swimmer performance across all levels. He designs and implements effective training programs, provides personalised feedback, and fosters a positive, results-driven environment. His expertise spans stroke mechanics, endurance training, and athlete motivation, significantly improving technique and competitive results. Ziggi is a Swimming Australia Advanced Coach who constantly strives to exercise the full potential of his swimmers.
With over 20 years in competitive swimming as both an athlete and coach, Kelly brings extensive knowledge and passion to the pool deck. A former Australian Swim Team representative, she now focuses on developing the next generation of swimmers.
She has coached athletes to success at state and national level, including National Age Champions, medallists, and Youth Australian Team members. Her philosophy centres on long-term development, technical excellence, and consistency, building strong foundations for future success.
With a degree in Psychology, Kelly also prioritises mental wellbeing, weaving mindset strategies into her coaching to support athletes in reaching their full potential.
Kevin is a highly experienced performance swimming coach with over 15 years in the sport, dedicated to developing swimmers from early squad levels right through to national and international competition. He is known for building strong connections with athletes, inspiring them to achieve their best, and fostering a results-driven, yet supportive, environment. Outside of the pool, Kevin enjoys an active lifestyle with his wife and daughter. Kevin’s expertise, passion, and collaborative spirit will be a wonderful addition to the Kawana coaching team.
Zane King is a highly respected Australian Swimming Coach with over two decades of experience developing swimmers from grassroots to elite levels. As a former Australian Dolphin and scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1995 to 2000, Zane represented Australia on multiple national teams throughout his competitive career.
Since transitioning into coaching, Zane has made a lasting impact across several leading programs. From 2002 to 2011, he was Head Coach at King Swim on the NSW Central Coast, where he coached Lachlan Staples onto the 2009 Australian World Championship Team. He then led the Rackley Swim Team at Colmslie from 2011 to 2021, before taking on the role of Head of Swimming at Iona College from 2022 to 2025. Zane has coached athletes onto Senior and Junior World Teams and produced many Australian Age Champions across his career.
Zane’s commitment to coaching is driven by his desire to give back to the sport that shaped his life. He brings a wealth of technical knowledge, international experience, and a genuine care for athlete development to every program he leads.
Kierston is a passionate swim coach dedicated to shaping young athletes’ minds and fostering their growth through swimming. As Assistant Swim Coach at Logan North, she brings a wealth of experience, from lifeguard and swim instructor to head swim coach, and focuses on building life skills and courageous individuals through the sport. Kierston coaches the Junior and Bronze Squads and assists with the Silver and Gold Squads, running the Strength and Conditioning program for these groups.
Steve began his swim coaching career in the mid-1980s at Bankstown Pool in Sydney. In 2015, he relocated to Coolangatta, where he commenced teaching learn-to-swim under the guidance of legendary coach Laurie Lawrence. He soon transitioned into squad coaching and later became the Head Coach of the Lawrence Swim Club. Steve credits much of his success to the mentorship and influence of Coach Lawrence, whose philosophy deeply shaped his own, anchored in hard work, pride, and integrity.
With a strong belief that technique is king, Steve has built a coaching style that emphasises discipline, technical excellence, and personal accountability. With experience across all levels of swimming, from beginners to national-level athletes, Steve has also served as Head Coach of Miami Masters. Throughout his career, he has consistently helped swimmers achieve their goals and remains committed to instilling a mindset of dedication and resilience in every athlete he coaches.
| #b4e1e4 | Junior Junior Development | $27.50 per week | The Junior Squad builds upon the fundamental swimming skills and developing your child's ability to learn how to train and develop a love for the sport through having fun. The primary focus is on learning competitive stroke and race techniques, with an emphasis on stroke technique, teamwork, basic training etiquette and discipline. Recommended to attend 2 - 4 sessions a week. |
| #d7c098 | Bronze Junior Competition | $32.50 per week | The Bronze Squad is designed for swimmers aged 10 and over aiming to compete at a Brisbane and State Level. The Bronze Squad entry group is for swimmers who have transitioned from Junior Squad. Swimmers will be introduced to a variety of racing opportunities as they continue to master the four competitive strokes and gain greater proficiency in turns, starts and finishes by introducing more advanced drills and training techniques. Recommended to attend 3 - 4 sessions per week. Note: Joining the Churchie Swim Club is highly encouraged for swimmers in Bronze Squad. |
| #b0b9b9 | Silver State & National | $37.50 per week | The Silver Squad is for State & National qualifiers 12 years and over. Squad sessions maintain an emphasis on stroke technique while incorporating more aerobic endurance, racing skills and dry land sessions. It aims to continue developing swimmers’ conditioning for competition and create training habits and behaviours that give athletes the highest chance of long-term success. Recommended to attend 4 - 6 sessions a week. Note: Joining the Churchie Swim Club and actively competing is a mandatory requirement for Silver Squad. |
| #000000 | Fitness/SeniorHigh School Multi-sport Athletes | $27.50 per week | |
| #ffffff | TOM Adult, Open Water, & Masters | $24.50 per week |
Rackley Swimming Tobruk is located at the Tobruk Memorial Baths on The Stand in Townsville, North Queensland. Enjoy our facilities seven days a week, including a 50m eight-lane heated pool, a 25m heated pool with shade cover, a shallow toddlers’ leisure pool under shade, a convenient kiosk, and change rooms with accessible toilets and showers.
At Rackley Swimming Tobruk, we encourage all squad swimmers to join the resident swim team, the Townsville Tourist Amateur Swim Club, which enables swimmers to race at regularly scheduled club nights as well as compete at local, Queensland, and national-level swim meets.