Shelly Beach swim club shows some cheek

The sunrise swimming club marked this achievement by having their logo printed on both men's and ladies costumes.

The club comprises mainly older residents between 40 and 90 years of age but not exclusively and anyone can have a dip.

Club President Bruce Heyward said when he first started swimming at Shelly Pool, he found all of the sunrise swimmers to be a friendly bunch.

"I asked if they had a name like the Polar Bears, but they said no, we don't, you think up a name for us.

"I eventually put it to them as we all swim through winter 'how about The Brass Monkeys' with its freezing connotations.

They also acknowledged the passing earlier this year of their beloved matriarch, Elsie McNaughton, who reached the amazing age of 103 years and whose photo sits pride of place in their beachside club room.

Much loved and admired, Mrs McNaughton was known as Queen Elsie and the Queen of Hearts by members of the Brass Monkeys swimming club and swam at dawn all year around at Shelly Beach for over 50 years.

Female swimmer Alice Beattie who has been using the pool for around 15 years, said she had slowly met other Brass Monkeys when doing her laps.

"After a while, I knew all the locals and joined the club. We are all like-minded people and enjoy a swim and the camaraderie," she said

Cossie coordinator Scot Robertson was responsible for the brand new Budgy Smuggler attire.

"The Shelly Beach Pool at South Cronulla attracts a friendly group of like-minded swimmers who need their daily dose of endorphins from their laps, as well as the good humour and banter between the members of the Brass Monkeys," he said

"It can get cold, down to 14 degrees, and shivering together, swimming through winter and having started the day with exercise in a pristine ocean pool with the fish, Octopus, Cormorants, and Seabirds is all part of it.

"Thanks to Angus Keenan of Budgy Smugglers who did us a good deal on over 70 pairs of swimmers- if you ask anyone down here, they truly love the place," Scot said

The Shelly Beach Brass Monkeys swim club rules are simple all you have to do is swim through a single winter, and you are allowed to check the water temperature.

Bruce Heyward said winter is the benchmark for the group.

"In summer, you get a lot of people in the pool bobbing up and down like tea bags - but winter thins out the crowd."

Sixty members now proudly wear their colourful club costumes to study the daily water temperature chart before they walk down the ramp and do their daily exercise.