Alana Richards
Summer is upon us and we all want to enjoy the water, whether it’s in a backyard pool or at one of the many beaches we are fortunate to have on our doorstep.
Learning to swim is a vital life skill and the Geelong Swimming Club (GSC) has been fostering a love of swimming across the Geelong region for more than 135 years.
Club president Glenn Benson says as operators of the Fiona Skinner Learn to Swim swimming school, the GSC team wants to ensure everybody can enjoy the water safely this summer season.
“Fiona Skinner Learn to Swim offers an engaging and competency-based program catering for all abilities under the governance of the Royal Life Saving, Swim and Survive program,” Glenn says.
“Many of the swim teachers are former competitive swimmers themselves and aspiring educators and they have a passion for young people and most importantly, a passion for fostering a love of swimming. Our Head Coach Sam Ashby – a former Australian Dolphin – helps young people to achieve their potential in their chosen aquatic sport.”
The sport of swimming builds confidence and encourages a healthy and active lifestyle for young people and Glenn says with 250 members and approximately 150 competitive swimmers training each week, the club has a strong family-friendly atmosphere.
“We cater for more than just competitive swimming and offer pathways into the numerous aquatic sports across our region, including cross training for surf lifesaving, water polo and open water swimming,” he says. “Our club supports all levels of competitive swimmers, with multiple state champions across pool swimming and surf lifesaving nurtured at the club.”
Supported by major sponsors JP Flynn and Ace Body Corporate Management, GSC has had to face challenges this year, like so many community groups and clubs. COVID put an abrupt halt to the swimming season in March this year, however Glenn says the GSC spirit only became stronger during the hiatus from the pool – a testament to the dedication and resilience of the club’s wonderful community.
Glenn’s own personal vision for the club aligns perfectly with the high standards, passion and ambition encompassed by the wider GSC community; “To make Geelong Swimming Club the centre of excellence for swimming”.
“We are currently in a transition period, changing from an amateur club to a professional competitive club which will open up so many exciting opportunities for our members,” Glenn says.
The club has three main pillars; the swim club, the Fiona Skinner Learn to Swim school and to show the club’s big community heart, a charitable foundation set up to assist multi-class swimmers (swimmers with a disability), with some members travelling from Melbourne to participate in the highly regarded program.
The multi-class swimmers program is home to a multitude of true champions – with the medals and world records to prove it. Dylan Logan participated in the 5th World Deaf Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil this year where he broke a long-held record and Phoebe Mitchell, Brad Doolan and Maddie Fox brought home a well-deserved collection of medals from the Down Syndrome Swimming Association Nationals in Brisbane recently.
“We don’t talk about diversity, we live it,” Glenn says, and with the club being shortlisted for three awards in the Disability Sport and Recreation Awards 2020, including Club of The Year, the statement certainly rings true.
“The team is proud and excited to be shortlisted and we’re all looking forward to the award celebrations on December 3, International Day for People with A Disability.
“We are so proud of our swimmers. They are an inspiration and we can’t wait to see what the promising future holds for these talented young people.”
Geelong Swimming Club: www.geelongswimmingclub.com.au
Fiona Skinner Learn to Swim: www.fionaskinnerlearntoswim.com.au
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