Marilyns Make a Splash for Cancer Research in Inaugural South East Jetty Swim
- Jess Dempster
- Feb 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 3
By Jessica Dempster
A sea of blonde wigs, bright white and star-spangled swimsuits, and community spirit will descend on the Naracoorte Swimming Lake on Sunday, March 1, as the Limestone Coast hosts its first-ever South East Marilyn Jetty Swim.
The colourful fundraising event, paying homage to the iconic Marilyn Monroe, aims to raise funds and awareness for Cancer Council SA and is expected to draw participants of all ages from across the region.
Speaking with FlowFM's Jessica Dempster on Country Viewpoint, event organiser and Naracoorte local Carly Gogel explained the history behind the well-established Adelaide tradition, which first took to the water in 2014.
Marilyn Swim founder Sarah Tinney first pledged to raise money for Cancer Council SA in 2006 after her mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer - a commitment that later evolved into the beloved annual swim.
The catalyst for the swim was a light-hearted conversation with women at the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, who encouraged Sarah to take part in the Channel 7 Brighton Jetty Classic as a fundraiser.
Despite not being the strongest swimmer, she agreed on the condition that she could make the swim comical by dressing as Marilyn Monroe and being joined by lookalike decoys - laying the foundations for the Marilyn Jetty Swim known today.
“What started as a small group of women wanting to do something different has grown into hundreds of Marilyns braving the water for a really important cause,” Carly said.
While the original Marilyn Swim takes place in February at the Brighton Jetty in Adelaide and involves a 400-meter paddle, the Limestone Coast version has been tailored to suit the region and encourage broad community participation, swapping the swim for a social dip.
“We wanted something inclusive - not a competitive distance swim, but an event where everyone can be involved, no matter their age or ability,” Carly said.
For Carly, the event is also deeply personal. Five years ago, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Adelaide.
“The Cancer Council supported me and my family through a really tough time, not just emotionally but financially as well,” she said. “They don’t just support patients - they support families too, and that makes such a difference, especially for regional people who have to travel for treatment.”
That connection made it easy to say yes when local Cancer Council volunteers approached her about bringing the event to the South East.
“I grabbed it with both hands,” she said. “It’s a chance to bring people together, raise funds for vital research and services, and do it in a way that’s fun and uplifting.”
Carly added that the response from the community so far has exceeded expectations. An initial fundraising target of $5,000 was reached within weeks, prompting organisers to raise the goal to $15,000. Registrations have also surged, with more than 65 people already signed up, including men, women, and children.
Alongside the swim, the Naracoorte Swimming Lake will be buzzing on March 1, with food trucks, coffee vans, and family-friendly activities, all coming together to make the day extra special.
Registrations for the swim have reopened to welcome more participants and will remain open until the end of February. Registration costs include the iconic blonde wig and heart-shaped glasses, with additional costume and floatie costs contributing to fundraising.
Carly said she hopes the inaugural event will become a fixture on the regional calendar.
“It’s going to be a wonderful sight - a lake full of Marilyns, all there to support a cause that’s touched so many lives in our community.”
More information and registrations are available via the Marilyn Jetty Swim website, using the access code REGIONAL26.
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