Legacy Continues For Vernon Family With Three Generations Completing Magnetic Island Swim

By Miah Lampard

The Vernon’s have a deep history with the Townsville to Magnetic Island Swim, with three generations of competitors within their family. The Vernon family legacy begins with Hockey Vernon in the early 1960’s, his son then competed in 2011, and, most recently his grandson in July this year. 
 
Hockey Vernon, at just 18 years of age, became the youngest competitor to attempt the swim in 1964 since the race’s commencement in 1954. He trained at the Ayr swimming pool under the guidance of coach Phil McLeod. Protected by a large cage towed by a boat, McLeod would watch on from a rubber dinghy to observe Vernon compete against five other swimmers, primarily from Gold Coast Surf Clubs. Vernon finished third with an extraordinary finishing time of two hours and one minute. Back then, the finish line was the RAAF pontoon, where onlookers, friends and family would eagerly await the emergence of their competitor.  
 
Hockey reattempted the swim in 1968, this time with Ingham-based Kauka Kaurlia, the very first winner of the race in 1954 as his coach. The fierce competition included coach Phil McLeod’s son Rodney, who finished first with a time of one hour and fifty-seven minutes. Hockey came in second, mere moments behind him with a time of two hours and two minutes. The solidarity and contention between the Burdekin swimmers was apparent, as many from the region have attempted the swim, contributing to the significant history of the event. 
 
Come 2011, the Vernon legacy was defended by 40-year-old Trent Vernon. Trent completed the Magnetic Island Swim in two hours and forty-five minutes, under the coaching and observation of John Moloney from the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club. His effort was a testament to the determination and dedication that had come to define the Vernons' involvement in the swim. 
 
This month, Max Vernon, at just 17 years old, demonstrated that the Vernon flair for open-water swimming has certainly not diminished. Max conquered the swim in just two hours and two minutes, finishing fourth overall and second in the under-17 category. Kylie Deeroy from Arcadia Surf Life Saving Club served as his navigator, ensuring a successful and safe crossing. Max's achievement not only honoured his family's tradition but also showcased the emergence of a new generation of talented swimmers from the Vernon lineage. 
 
The Vernons' involvement in the Magnetic Island Swim is part of a larger tapestry of noteworthy performances by Burdekin swimmers. Rodney McLeod's four-time participation, his sister Robyn's record-setting swim in 1966 with a time of two hours and twenty-eight minutes, and Dulce Andrews' courageous swim in 1959, where she overcame the sweeping tides to finish, all showcasing the tenacity and spirit of the region's athletes. 
 
The legacy was further enriched in 1997 by Home Hill's champion swimmer Josh Santacatarina, who won the swim in a spectacular 1 hour and 34 minutes. These stories of endurance and achievement have cemented the Magnetic Island Swim as a cornerstone of the local sporting calendar. 
 
The three-generation-spanning competitors from the Vernon family in the Magnetic Island Swim represent not just a passion but an aptitude for open-water swimming. From Hockey’s 1960 pioneering swims, to Trent’s impressive finish time, as well as Max’s most recent accomplishment, the Vernon family have continuously contributed to the deep history of this challenging event. Their inspiring story is one of dedication, perseverance, and familial pride, encouraging future generations of swimmers from the Burdekin region and beyond.  

‍

Trent Vernon, 17-year-old Max Vernon who recently competed in Magnetic Island Swim and Hockey Vernon. Photo supplied

‍