Our story

The Sydney Stingers were formed to create space. In 2001, a group of water polo players came together to represent Sydney at the 2002 Gay Games, at a time when many LGBTQIA+ people did not feel safe or welcome in organised sport.

What began as a single purpose quickly became something more lasting.

From representation to community

After the Gay Games, the Stingers continued training and playing together. What they found was that the need for inclusive, community-led sport didn't disappear once the event ended.

Over time, the club grew into a year-round water polo community, welcoming people with different levels of experience, confidence, and connection to the sport. Some came to compete. Others came to belong. Many found both.

Growing with intention

As the club evolved, so did its structure. Teams entered local competitions, social pathways developed, and new ways to participate emerged. The Stingers focused on creating entry points that allowed people to try water polo without pressure, while still supporting competitive play for those who wanted it.

Importantly, the club remained volunteer-run and community-led, shaped by the people who showed up each season.

A place to belong

For many members, the Stingers have been more than a sports club. They've been a place to build confidence, make friends, find leadership opportunities, and stay connected to community through sport.

That sense of belonging has remained central, even as the club has grown and changed.

25 years on

Today, the Sydney Stingers continue to balance inclusion, competition, and care. The club supports beginners and experienced players, social and competitive pathways, and opportunities to engage on and off the pool deck.

After 25 years, the Stingers are still here because the need they were created to meet still exists. The club continues to adapt, guided by its values and the people who make it possible.

Looking ahead

The next chapter of the Stingers will be shaped, as it always has been, by the community itself. New members, new leaders, and new ideas will continue to build on what came before.

The goal remains the same: to create a place where people can show up, get involved, and belong through sport.

Explore more: [Meet] | [Join] | [Support] | [History] | [Leadership] | [Contact]

Note: Membership years run from 1 September to 31 August. Highlights are listed in reverse chronological order. Full history is available to members in the member zone.

2025-26

Competition & Participation

• Metro and INTRA Summer Season 2025/26: Currently in progress

Community & Visibility

• Annual Trivia Night

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

Recognition

Membership year in progress - awards to be presented at end of year celebration

2024-25

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2024/25: W2 team advanced to semi-finals

• Metro Winter Season 2025: W4 Zooper Doopers achieved silver medal

• INTRA Season 9 (Summer): Thunder Queens won championship

• INTRA Season 10 (Winter): Dunkaroos won championship

• IGLA 2025 Washington DC: Levi Castlehow represented Sydney Stingers

• IGLA Buenos Aires 2025: Sydney Stingers team participation

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Parramatta Pride Picnic community outreach event

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

• Annette Kellerman TGD Event for trans and gender diverse community engagement

• Andrew Boy Charlton Pool Reopening Exhibition Match at newly reopened iconic Sydney pool

Recognition

Annual club awards for this membership year have not been announced yet

2023-24

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2023/24: W2 advanced to semi-finals; W5 and M6 both silver medalists

• Metro Winter Season 2024: Lapis Lazulis won championship

• INTRA Season 7 (Summer): Retrograde Rascals won championship

• INTRA Season 8 (Winter): Aquamarine Armada won championship

• IGLA Buenos Aires 2025: Sydney Stingers team participation

• Rainbow Grudge Cup: tournament with Sydney Stingers, Melbourne Surge, and Brisbane Tritons

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Parramatta Pride Picnic community outreach event

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

Recognition

• Inclusion Award: Dean Lane

• Coaches Award: Adam Harris

• President's Award: Rachel Collier + Michaela Davies

2022-23

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2022/23: W5 advanced to semi-finals

• INTRA Season 5 (Winter): Lust won championship

• INTRA Season 6 (Spring): UF-HOs won championship

• London IGLA 2023: Placed 1st & 4th in Recreational Division

• Gay Games Guadalajara, Mexico: Stingers placed equal 5th, won best outfit award

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• AQuAFest Co-hosted by Sydney Stingers and Sydney Wett Ones swimming club during Sydney World Pride

• Parramatta Pride Picnic community outreach

Recognition

• Inclusion Award: Celia Tier

• Coaches Award: Bryce McMillan

• President's Award: Dean Lane

2021-22

Competition & Participation

• INTRA Season 2 (Summer): Competition held

• INTRA Season 3 (Winter): Ugly Uggies won championship

• Sydney Grudge Match hosted interstate competition

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

• 20 Year Celebration event (December 2021)

Recognition

• Lifetime Membership Awarded: Kerry Mealing - for over 10 years of extraordinary club contributions

• Inclusion Award: Beck Colechin

• Coaches Award: Beck Colechin

• President's Award: Stephen Timbrell

• Head Coaches won WPNSW Coach of the Year

2020-21

Competition & Participation

• INTRA Season 1 (Winter) launched: Over 50 players in inaugural season; aborted due to COVID-19

• First training at Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre

• Brisbane Grudge Match: Stingers placed 1st and 2nd

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

Recognition

• Coaches Award: Alexander Kingsford Mortensen

• President's Award: Michael Hockey 

• Lifetime Membership Award: Kerry Mealing

2019-20

Competition & Participation

• IGLA Melbourne 2020: Stingers won Silver Medal

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

Recognition

• Inclusion Champion Award: Rachel & Kayla

• Coaches Award: Karen Hooi

• President's Award: Annie Wylie & Nathan Collett

2018-19

Competition & Participation

• Metro Winter Season 2019: won M5 championship

• IGLA New York: Stingers finished 4th in Competitive Division

• Perth Pride Challenge interstate competition

• Formalised permanent head coaches for club development

• Junior coaches development program established

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• Beach Water Polo 4s Tournament

• Stingers vs NSW All Stars LGBTIQ+ inclusion match

Recognition

• Won Pride in Sport LGBTI Inclusion Initiative Award for Women's Water Polo Team

2017-18

Competition & Participation

• Metro Winter Season 2018: won championship

• Paris Gay Games: Competitive & Recreational Division teams both finished 5th

• First women's teams entered Sydney Metropolitan competition

• One of two inaugural women's teams won gold medal in first competitive season

• Expanded to 7 teams in Sydney Metropolitan Competition

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual Trivia Night

• WPNSW Pride and Inclusion Match participation

• Targeted recruitment campaign to broaden LGBTQIA+ representation across spectrum

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2016-17

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2016/17: Stingers won first place in M6 division

• Stingers debuted M5 team in Winter competition

• Pride Challenge Brisbane: Stingers won tournament

• January Grudge Match Melbourne

• Autumn Bootcamp

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a Stinger?' Trivia Night

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2015-16

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2015/16: Club's first gold medal in Sydney Metro Competition

• IGLA Edmonton: Competitive Division placed 6th

• January Pride Cup Melbourne Grudge Match: Stingers won tournament

• October Grudge Match Sydney: Stingers placed second

• Autumn & Spring Bootcamp

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a Stinger?' Trivia Night

• Supported establishment of Brisbane Tritons and Perth White Pointers water polo club

Recognition

• President's Award: Daniel Kirkwood

2014-15

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2014/15: Stingers A placed second

• Metro Winter Season 2015: Stingers A placed 3rd

• Eurogames Stockholm: Competitive Division participation

• January & June Grudge Match

• Autumn & Spring Bootcamp

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Fair Day & Parade participation

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a Stinger?' Trivia Night

Recognition

• President's Award: Ivan Buckingham

2013-14

Competition & Participation

• Metro Summer Season 2013/14 participation

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a Stinger?' Trivia Night

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2012-13

Competition & Participation

• Outgames Antwerp: 2nd place finish to Melbourne Surge

• January Grudge Match - Melbourne interstate competition

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation: Won award for Best Choreography

• Annual 'Are You Smarter than a Stinger' Trivia Night

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2011-12

Competition & Participation

• Grudge Match Melbourne interstate competition with Melbourne Surge

• Grudge Match Sydney: Stingers won 14-3

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation: Won award for Best Choreography

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a stinger' Trivia Night

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2010-11

Competition & Participation

• Stingers Red team debuted in NSW Metropolitan League 2010/11 Summer Season (second team expansion)

Community & Visibility

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

• Stingers Pool Party at Ivy Pool Deck

• Annual 'Are you smarter than a stinger' Trivia Night

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2009-10

Competition & Participation

• Gay Games VIII Cologne: Placed 7th

• Metro Summer Season 2009/10: Stingers Black placed 5th

Community & Visibility

• Inaugural 'Are you smarter than a stinger' Trivia Night - became signature club fundraiser

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2008-09

Competition & Participation

• Bootcamp Recruitment Program commenced (2009) - established structured beginner recruitment and training pathway

Community & Visibility

• First Mardi Gras Fair Day participation at Victoria Park (February 2009)

• Annual Mardi Gras Parade participation (March 2009)

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2007-08

Competition & Participation

Limited detailed records available for this period

Community & Visibility

• First annual Mardi Gras Parade participation

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2006-07

Competition & Participation

• Montreal Outgames: Sydney Stingers team participation

• Wyong Cup local tournament participation

• Grudge Match Melbourne v Sydney interstate competition

Community & Visibility

Limited detailed records available for this period

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2005-06

Competition & Participation

• Gay Games VII Chicago: Placed 5th (2006)

Community & Visibility

Limited detailed records available for this period

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2004-05

Competition & Participation

• IGLA Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Sydney Stingers team participation

Community & Visibility

Limited detailed records available for this period

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2003-04

Competition & Participation

• IGLA San Francisco: First international trip for club following Gay Games

Community & Visibility

Limited detailed records available for this period

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2002-03

Competition & Participation

• Sydney Metro League entry: First entry with one men's team in Winter competition

• First "Grudge Match" held in Melbourne against the Crabs water polo club - establishment of interstate competition tradition

Community & Visibility

• First Coach hired: Chris Hook employed as club's first professional coach

• Training relocated to Ryde Aquatic Centre

Recognition

No annual club awards recorded for this membership year

2001-02

Competition and participation

• Sydney Stingers Water Polo Club founded (October 2001)

• Formed to represent Sydney at 2002 Gay Games

• Training commenced at Leichhardt Pool

• Initial team development without professional coaching

Community and visibility

• Created first organized LGBTQIA+ water polo opportunity in Sydney

• Established foundation for ongoing community sporting presence

• Built initial member base of committed players

Recognition

• First Club President: David Fletcher (2001-2002)

• Founding members: Andrew Lees, David Armour, David Fletcher, Darren Wegg, Mal McNeilly, Mark Eagleson, Pascal Van De Walle, Paul O'Sullivan, Rod Messent, Sandor King, Shane Ewen, and Tim Green.

Explore more: [Meet] | [Join] | [Support] | [History] | [Leadership] | [Contact]