City of Mandurah MARC

Got a young soccer fan at home? ⚽🕺 Their fancy footwork could take them somewhere unexpected this Sunday!

Step-Ball-Change takes soccer off the field and onto the dance floor, combining footwork, tricks and movement in a fun two-hour workshop.

No dance experience needed. If they love kicking a ball around, this is their chance to try something completely different!

⚽ Sunday, 13 September, 1-3pm
📍 Mandurah Seniors Centre
🎟️ Just $10

It’s happening THIS WEEKEND, so grab a spot while you can 👇
https://bit.ly/3SWbetZ

Proudly part of Mandurah Arts Festival.

🏓 Ever wondered what all the pickleball hype is about? Come and Try!

Now's your chance to find out! Join us at the MARC Come and Try Day and jump into a free, bite sized, beginners pickleball session. It's easy to learn, fun to play and suitable for kids and adults.

📅 Saturday, 10 October
🕙 10am - 1pm
💚 Only at our Come and Try Day at the MARC

🎟️ Free - book ahead or just come along! More info or to book: https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/marccomeandtryday

At the MARC, every person has a story, and together, these stories create a vibrant, connected community. On the first Wednesday of each month, we share a new story, highlighting the incredible people who make the MARC a great place to be. This month, we meet City of Mandurah employee and MARC member Laura.

"When people hear that I compete in powerlifting, they often assume I've always been sporty. The truth is, I was actually a very unsporty child and never really saw myself as someone who would be involved in competitive sport.

A few years ago, after moving to Perth, I felt like I needed something to work towards. I'd tried lots of different fitness activities, but I wanted something with more structure and purpose. That's when I discovered powerlifting.

I joined a gym with a dedicated powerlifting space and met an incredible group of women, many who were elite-level lifters. Watching them train was inspiring. What stood out to me most was the culture. Unlike many fitness environments that focus on how your body looks, powerlifting focuses on what your body can do. It's about challenging yourself to become stronger than you were yesterday.

I've now been powerlifting for around two years and have competed in several novice competitions before entering my first sanctioned competition last year. One of my proudest achievements was competing in the Australian Powerlifting League WA State Competition earlier this year, where I placed second in my class.

I train at the MARC four days a week, focusing on squat, bench press, deadlift and accessory work. My programs run over 12-week blocks, gradually building from higher repetitions to heavy singles that prepare me for the competition.

One of the things I love about powerlifting is perspective. At the MARC, I might be one of the stronger women in the gym. But when I step into a powerlifting competition, I'm surrounded by people who are stronger, more experienced and incredibly talented. It's a humbling reminder that there is always something to learn and someone to inspire you.

At the same time, it's nice to know I can inspire others too.

The support I've received from people at the MARC has been amazing. Many members know when I have a competition coming up and regularly ask how my training is going. Some have even tuned into live streams to watch me compete. Others have helped spot me during heavy lifts or offered encouragement. It's created a wonderful sense of community that means a lot to me.

I've even convinced a MARC staff member to give powerlifting a go and enter a novice competition next year!

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about trying something new, it would be this: Just give it a go. There will always be someone stronger, faster or more experienced than you, but that shouldn't stop you from trying. At a recent competition, a woman competing in her very first novice event at 76 years old came second in her division. That shows it's never too late to start.

You never know, you might surprise yourself with what you're capable of!"

⭐From First Splashes to Future Superstars ⭐

At the MARC, we help children build skills for life. Whether they're taking their first splash at 4 months, exploring movement through Action Tots, learning gymnastics, kicking goals in futsal, scoring in netball, improving fitness in Junior PowerFit or joining our upcoming junior pickleball program ( 👀stay tuned!), every activity is designed to help children thrive and:

✅ Stay active and healthy
✅ Build confidence and resilience
✅ Develop hand-eye coordination and motor skills
✅ Make friends and learn teamwork
✅ Learn new skills in a fun, supportive environment
✅ Create healthy habits that last a lifetime

With programs available from 4 months to teens, there's something for every child at every stage of their journey.

View our children's programs here: www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/Facilities/MARC/Children

🏆 Three reasons to celebrate at the Aquatic and Recreation Industry Awards, presented by LIWA!

We're incredibly proud to recognise the achievements of our team and the MARC at this year's awards.

👏 Heather Newcombe-Virgl, Senior Lifeguard, was recognised for 10 years of service to the aquatic and recreation industry.

👏 Jenelle Francis, Lifeguard, received Highly Commended – Lifeguard of the Year, recognising her dedication, professionalism and commitment to keeping our community safe.

👏 The MARC was awarded Highly Commended – Facility of the Year, a reflection of the outstanding work our entire team does to create a welcoming, inclusive and high-quality experience for our community.

These achievements highlight the passion, care and commitment that our staff bring to the MARC every day. Whether it's helping someone learn to swim, supporting health and wellbeing or providing a safe and welcoming place to connect, our team makes a real difference in people's lives.

Congratulations Heather, Jenelle and the entire MARC team on this well-deserved recognition.

We couldn't be prouder.

A great day for local sport!

When was the last time you took some time for your own health and wellbeing?

Join us for the Women's Health Expo, a free community event bringing together local health, wellbeing and support services all in one place.

This year's theme, Do It Anyway, encourages women to take small, positive steps towards their health and wellbeing, even when life gets busy.

Connect with local organisations, gather information, discover support services and explore opportunities that can help you prioritise your wellbeing.

📅 Thursday, 10 September 2026
🕘 9am to 12pm
📍 the MARC
💲 Free

More on the event can be found here: https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/womenshealthexpo2026

❤️Supporting a healthy and connected Mandurah.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our much-loved and oldest member, Hilton Doust.

For more than three decades, Hilton was part of the MARC community. As a World War II veteran and a regular face at the MARC, he inspired staff and members alike with his commitment to living an active and healthy life.

Many of us will remember Hilton arriving bright and early for his morning swims, often before most of us had started our day. We celebrated birthdays with him at 7am over cake, listened to his stories, and looked forward to seeing his friendly face as the doors opened each morning. Many will also remember Hilton’s famous Christmas fruit cake, which became a cherished tradition for staff and members.

At 102, Hilton showed us all that age is no barrier to staying active, connected and engaged in the things you love. His positivity, determination and presence left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Hilton was more than a member of the MARC. He was part of our family.

Our thoughts are with Hilton’s family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.

Thank you, Hilton. You will be greatly missed 🤍

On behalf of Hilton's family we would like to share the below funeral details:

Monday, 24 August at 2.30pm
Bowra & O'Dea Chapel,
460 Pinjarra Road, Greenfields

A friendly reminder that our scheduled pool maintenance works begin next week. 🏊

The Outdoor 50m Pool will be temporarily closed from Friday, 28 August while these planned works are completed. The MARC will remain open, with only the affected pool unavailable.

See the original post below for all the details. 👇

Looking after our facilities today helps ensure they're available for our community in the future.

As part of our scheduled maintenance program, the MARC will be undertaking planned pool maintenance during August and September.

🏊 Outdoor 50m Pool
Closed Friday, 28 August to Monday, 31 August
Reopens Tuesday, 1 September at 5.30am

💦 Indoor 25m Pool
Closed Friday, 25 September to Monday, 28 September
Reopens Tuesday, 29 September at 5.30am

To help minimise disruption, the maintenance has been scheduled during periods of lower attendance and when resident swimming clubs are away. These works help keep our facilities safe, reliable and operating at their best for our community.

The MARC will remain open during these maintenance periods.

Members have already received advance notice via email. For more information, visit:
https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/upcoming%20pool%20maintenance%20at%20the%20marc