Late in 2010 I went to watch the Orcas Masters Swimming group at Nunawading. It was everything I was looking for with high quality coaching, an emphasis on continued, timed improvement and a regular, challenging fitness routine. As an added bonus the Orcas are a great bunch of people who are fun to socialize with at their various, regular events.

I am delighted to be president of a club that accommodates personal objectives of fitness, technical stroke improvement, pool competition and open-water events at all ages and all levels within a friendly, encouraging environment.

I had been a regular lap swimmer at the Nunawading Pool and was interested in participating in an evening squad to improve my technique and fitness.

I joined Nunawading Orcas when it was formed in 1994 and found it ideally suited my needs. The coaching has been professional and well structured to maintain interest while improving technique in all strokes. The intensity and distance varied to maintain a good level of fitness. Social activities and friendships have made swimming in a group most enjoyable.

I was a swimmer all though my teen years, at Surrey Park and in the USA. I was lucky to swim at state level. Life got in the way and swimming took a back seat. Two years ago I found myself so busy, unfit and not very healthy. I gave myself a birthday present of joining the Orcas. I thought that getting back into swimming might give me the extra energy I needed to finish my studies as a single mum while working full time. I have never looked back. The Orcas are such a supportive and fun group of people. They encouraged me to come back each session and helped me see improvements. The environment created is relaxed and there is no pressure to perform; when I started I was out of breath after 50 meters! I can now keep up for the full training session, and sometimes even lead my lane! The social events also were a great chance to get to know other members. This was the best gift I could have given myself – friends, fun and fitness all in the one place. I’m excited to take on this role and hope that I can encourage others to join.

Having grown up near the beach in a place called Governors Bay in New Zealand, I’ve had a love for swimming from as early as I can remember. At age six I was already a competent swimmer. Although that was a very long time ago, swimming always seemed quite natural for me. By my teens however, swimming was replaced with Basketball which became my sport for many years and far into adulthood. Basketball injuries and wear and tear eventually saw me return to the swimming joy I had as a young boy for a continued source of fitness and social interaction.

As a career change I started down the path of swim teaching and coaching in 2013. Working as a swim instructor at all levels since then, and transitioning into coaching along the way.

Among my more recent exploits are visits in two consecutive years to the remote community of Yuendumu as a Red Dust Role Model. Teaching swimming there, Lifeguarding and twice helping to run a Swim Carnival for the community.

In 2016 I was awarded both the Victorian and the National Austswim awards for Teacher of Swimming and Water safety.

Now coaching Nunawading Junior competitive Athletes and a Teenage non-competitive squad, I’ve added the Nunawading Orcas masters group to my repertoire.

Swimmers will find me to have an inclusive, adaptable ethos supporting an encouraging group environment whilst taking an orderly and analytical approach to building fitness and refining technique via the relevant stroke drills. And as well offering feedback and stroke correction along the way.

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