INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: 8 FINA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS (2008–2023): 2 Gold, 2 Bronze, 1 Silver; 2023 (Fukuoka) Silver 75+, 2019 (Gwangju) Gold 70+ (suffered heart attack, did not take to water), 2017 (Budapest) Gold 70+, 2015 (Kazan) Bronze 65+, 2014 (Montreal) Bronze 65+, 2012 (Riccione) 65+, 2010 (Gutenberg) 60+, 2008 (Perth) 60+; THAI PACIFIC MASTERS (Bangkok): 2023 Silver 75+, 2018 Gold 70+, 2016 Bronze 65+, 2014 65+; 2015 AUSTRALIAN MASTERS: Gold.
Gary Payne has been the driving force of Masters water polo in Australia for many years from the first Australian Masters in Perth in 2003 right through to the current day where health concerns have seen him slow down. He has toured the world following his favorite sport, and as a player at eight FINA/World Aquatics Masters World Championships, has won his fair share of medals.
He has a reputation for fairness and knowledge of the game through his extensive involvement with refereeing. He brought that experience to his playing teams, making sure that they played with the correctness and the spirit of fair play at a time when Masters players seemed to think they didn’t need guidance.
Gary’s sharp drives, expert assists, ferocious defense, and finishing ability made him an integral part of any team he played for. He understands it’s not about the player but about the team when deciding who should shoot goals.
At the leading edge of World Masters, Gary made sure that he had a team around him to contest many of the championships he attended. His steadfast adherence to getting Masters to play brought back many players who had been out of the game for some time. They evolved and had second careers in the sport, thanks to Gary’s influence and dynamism. His liaisons with the Japanese, German, and United States of America Masters in particular, has made sure that the top end of the world competitions; first 65+, then 70+, and now 75+; were viable internationally and has allowed those nations to flourish.
It was refereeing where he also excelled, gaining the FINA international standard and participating as both an athlete and a referee at numerous FINA Masters competitions.
His involvement with playing and refereeing at every level within Australia and his mentorship and assessment abilities have seen a host of new officials flow through his hands. There is a trophy, the Gary Payne Perpetual Trophy, which is awarded annually to developing referees throughout Western Australia.
He was instrumental in nurturing Masters tournaments in Asia, before COVID curtailed those events, and then reviving them. His leadership and drive have seen numerous Masters teams from Western Australia become involved in FINA and Asian events and the Perth competition which is the paramount Masters competition in the country. He has been awarded two Life Memberships in Western Australia by Water Polo Western Australia among his many accolades.
He was on the organizing committee of the Thai Pacific Masters 2014-18 and the organizing committee of the Princess Chulabhorn Cup in Bangkok 2016-18. In 2018 he attended the inaugural Perak Water Polo Cup in Ipoh, Malayasia, as the Technical Delegate. He was also the Technical Delegate at the Bangkok Cup in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
A top-level referee and Technical Delegate for nearly 40 years, Gary has been a vital cog in the Australian National League and National Championships, state, and club events around Australia. Gary’s immense value to Masters water polo in Australia and Asia is incalculable.
