On March 1^st 1967, Morgan Murphy moved to commence working as a Physiotherapist at St John of God Hospital Ballarat.

It was not too long before Morgan was invited by a group of parents to help develop a training program in Ballarat. These people included Laurie Dixon (President of MDASA), Len Izard (President of GCO), Jim Pryor (Surgeon), Ken Neerhut (Urologist) and Syd Giddy (Anaesthetist) all of whom had children involved in the sport.

Without any winter pool in Ballarat, training consisted of after school Calisthenic exercise in a church hall and Saturday morning swim sessions at Tom Tresize’s pool in Geelong (near Kardinia Park). Our summer training was at the former Ballarat East Baths in Peel St (Very cold!)

In 1969 the YMCA (following a great fundraiser by the Y’s Men) opened a 25m four lane pool in Field St. This became the training headquarters for our squad which was registered as Ballarat Swim Club for second claim swimmers. This meant that swimmers would compete as members of their own Club in local competition but competed together as Ballarat Club members outside the District.

In 1970, Mick O’Neill, whose boys Brett and John trained in the squad, began the move to form the Ballarat YMCA swim Club. This was necessary as the concept of second claim clubs was being frowned upon by the Victorian Swimming Association.

Mick had been assisting Morgan with coaching and at this time began the Club Tuesday and Thursday evening one hour sessions whilst Morgan continued the Monday to Saturday morning training sessions.