Many adults in Melbourne’s western suburbs are learning how to swim. Jaidyn Kennedy speaks to a few of those taking the plunge later in life and explores how more of the west can be made swimmable.
Many people take swimming lessons, but not many people take swimming lessons on the cusp of their eighth decade.
Anne Young had her first formal swimming lesson at the age of 70 after moving to Williamstown – a suburb people flock to for its beach.
“I had my first lesson at 70 because I could swim to save myself but no one else,” Anne said.
“I have always loved the water and to swim, and as the eldest of seven kids, my parents couldn’t afford swimming lessons.
“Then as things went on, I thought I would love to be able to swim with my head in the water.”
Daily strolls along the shore and seeing beachgoers enjoy themselves was what finally pushed her to take the plunge.
“There was an advert for senior swimming lessons and I thought why not, so I got into the pool and learned the strokes and how to breathe correctly,” Anne said.
“At the end of five or six lessons, I was presented with a beach towel for the most improvement.
“It was just enough to give me the confidence of going into the open water.”
Transmitting that confidence to others has become something of a calling and now she volunteers to help children with disabilities learn how to swim.
“That is so rewarding, just the pleasure of getting the kids in the water to start with – and then you can’t get them out,” Anne said.
“Its a bit of a cliché, but it really does give me joy.”
Anne warns that there may be no turning back once you jump in the water.
“It’s very addictive and the only side effects are that it gives you adrenaline and sets you up for the day.”
Growing up in India, Shailaja Samudrala harboured a persistent fear of water and drowning.
“Actually, I wanted to be able to survive in water during an emergency – I started as a newbie because I didn’t learn to swim as a child,” Shailaja said.
“Coming over here [to Australia] I wanted to overcome my fears and I always had this sense of waterphobia.”
In her mid-thirties at that stage, the inspiration to learn came from quite close to home.
“I saw my kids learning, so I thought why not? Why can’t I learn how to do it?,” she said.
“I got inspired and thought let’s do it this time – even I can overcome my fears.”
The mission is now making sure everyone in her household knows how to swim.
“I keep telling my husband you should give it a try, there is no harm in giving it a shot,” Shailija said.
“Water survival is a must for everyone, you never know what is coming your way.”
Sometimes it can be the good things in life that come your way, too.
“I have made heaps of friends and have gone on coffee dates and holidays,“ Shailija said.
One of those friends is Barbara Murotake.
While both proficient swimmers, the pair still take lessons to hone their skills and strokes at Shawn’s Swim School in Hoppers Crossing.
“I had just moved to Melbourne from Canberra and didn’t have many friends in the west, so I was able to make friends through swimming,” Barbara said.
“Shailaja and I have become good friends and that has been something really awesome.”
Barbara teaches adults how to swim – but it was never something she set out to do.
“I decided to become a swim teacher, because it sounds really weird, but I really wanted to either have more kids or go back to school,” she said.
“I think the decision I made was to learn something new and still be around kids.
“That was this year actually, I wasn’t really comfortable with teaching adults swimming, I am a socially awkward person and sometimes I can’t pick up on social cues.”
Turns out it wasn’t as daunting as she thought it would be.
“I find it really engaging to teach adults swimming – a lot of them are there because they really want to learn to swim, often to be with their kids or improve their fitness,“ Barbara said.
Imparting lessons that go beyond the pool is what she has come to love most.
“The thing I find really good about adults is learning how to play, it’s okay to mess up, or trip, you can always find it next time,” Barbara said.
“So I teach them not just swimming, but self-compassion, and just to be gentle with yourself.
“In order to be good at something you have to be bad first.”
