Timing swimming races has just become a lot easier for Gilgandra Amateur Swim Club, thanks to an Inland Rail Grant of $4000.

President Sally Temple said timing race competitors was previously done with stop watches, after which timers had to write the results down, take it to the recorder where it was then manually loaded onto a computer.

“In a lot of ways it was a nightmare as it the system was so prone to human error and relying on individual reflexes,” Ms Morgan said.

The new system will provide synchronised wireless stopwatch system and fully wireless swimming touchpads, taking the human-related variation out of timing races.

“Being on the corridor between Narromine and Narrabri, we were familiar with the Inland Rail grants and are very grateful to have received money towards the new Wylas timing system which is worth $6500 in total.”

The Swim Club had hoped to have the new system up and running by the Swimming Carnival on February 14, but time constraints and getting familiar with the timer mean this will probably not be possible.

“Once it is going, the new timer will be fantastic,” Ms Morgan said. “Races will be started by the central timer and guarantee accuracy for the competitors. We rely so much on volunteers so its great this is one less job, even though they will still be needed at the other end of the lane.”

Ms Morgan said the club has around 70 members and a committee of 13, all keen to see the club improve into the future.

“Grants like the one from Inland Rail are a lifeline to us. We have to pay a lot of affiliation fees so when we can be assisted in making large purchases it’s a really good outcome for the club.

Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Director of Health, Safety and Environment, said the company was proud to give back to the communities that are home to Inland Rail.

“The work these organisations do is instrumental to the wellbeing of regional communities. ‘I encourage other non-profit groups to lodge their applications for the next round of funding,” he said.