Kay Bales, a lifetime member of the CLDSA, was born on 10 October 1942 and passed away on 4 January 2026. Her husband, Peter, was one of the founding members of the CLDSA.

While the CLDSA got off to a strong start in 1969, with many wild swims and ocean adventures, it was Kay who ensured that it continued growing from strength to strength. She was the driving force behind the scenes and helped shape the CLDSA into the organisation it is today. As secretary, she handled all the background management for open water swimming, from securing approval for swims to ensuring that records were kept, making sure that swims were documented and that communication between swimmers and authorities was maintained. Her dedication to accurately capturing and documenting swims and their records means that she has created a lasting legacy for us all to enjoy. 

It has been honour for us to have known her and her delightful character shines through in her work and memorable storytelling. It is with fondness that she will be remembered by the CLDSA. We would like to express our deep condolences to Peter and his family during this time.