Awards

Irene Smith – Facility Manager

Region: Auckland Facility: Mt Albert Aquatic Centre

History in the recreation sector: I have worked in the aquatics industry in some capacity for approx. 13 years and sport and recreation within the education sector for over 10 years.

What have you learned as a facility manager? Knowledge is key. Find yourself a mentor and absorb as much as you can. I'm privileged to be able to have Mark Blake (GM) to guide me through my journey as a manager. The role of a manager can be demanding so having someone to bounce ideas off and seek advice is invaluable.

What’s the best part about your job? Being able to interact with the public and see their fitness goals come to fruition. I also enjoy seeing those in our community who have a disability or suffer some type of adversity find enjoyment in being an active and valued member of our aquatic family. We are privileged at Mt Albert that we have staff that are bilingual or able to communicate in basic sign language. Removing barriers to participation is extremely important and isn't finding acceptance what everyone wants for themselves.

What do you find the most challenging? Finding enough hours in the day. As much as I love people, they can also remain my largest challenge. Getting commitment from all staff , all of the time I’m sure is the biggest challenge for most managers. Whilst for the most part we have dedicated, passionate staff and for us to deliver I am relying on over 50 people to play their part. When they can’t hopefully somebody else fills the breach. I’m unsure how, but to date we always get those positions filled but it is always at the forefront of my mind.

What is one project or idea that you’ve established that you’re really proud of in the last year? Over the last year we introduced to our staff the MHeLP online a mental health e-learning programme. Mental health, access and inclusion has been a big focus for our Centre and Belgravia Leisure NZ. We recognisethat providing a platform for staff and their whānau to be educated, aware and able to look after their mental health is extremely important.

What’s one tip for being a good manager?Listen and be an engaged manager. By listening and engaging with your team you quickly realisethat you are surrounded by passionate and dedicated people who all seek to achieve exceptional results and outcomes for your facility and community.

Linda Howes – Swim Teacher

Region: Waikato Facility: Mairangi Swim School

How long have you been a Swim Teacher? I began teaching swimming in 1992 as a student and have continued teaching since then. Swimming teaching is something I have always wanted to do and found time for in my life; throughout my university studies, when working full time, across two countries (NZ and England), and as a working mother.

Why did you become a Swim Teacher? Swimming teaching and a love of the sport of swimming is in my blood. I competed and loved it. My mother, Margaret Howes, is a NZ Master Swim Teacher, former British Empire (Commonwealth) Games medalist in swimming. My parents opened the Mairangi Swim School when I was a young child, and I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by many awe-inspiring people, all with a passion for effective swim teaching. I continue to teach because I feel I have more to give and more to learn about being a better swimming teaching.

What do you enjoy the most about being a Swim Teacher? Seeing a child's face light up with joy when they first discover the wonder of the aquatic environment. Watching brave and courageous children overcome their fears and anxiety around water to become confident explorers in and under the water.

What do you find most challenging? It's always a challenge to help someone to overcome a fear of the water. Basically, our job as a swimming teacher is to help the swimmer feel safe and comfortable in an environment where they currently feel fearful and anxious. It is incredibly rewarding when you can help a swimmer to overcome fear and anxiety around the water.

Would you recommend becoming a Swim Teacher and why? Yes, passing on knowledge to others on water safety and aquatic skills is rewarding. Every working day I get to feel 'warm fuzzies' as I know I've helped people to experience life more fully by unlocking the fun to be had in the water in a safer way.

What’s been one highlight for you as a Swim Teacher in the last year? Hearing the success stories where I know that our programmeis working. Several years' ago, as a two-year-old one of our swimmers fell into a pool at a family BBQ, he was being supervised by both parents, and the boy was able to rescue himself by swimming to the side and holding on before Dad could get to him. Unfortunately, the boy developed a fear of the water and refused to get in the pool. After 12 months, the family returned to lessons. Initially, he hid behind his mother's legs fearful of standing on the side of the pool, with a gentle approach and supportive teaching practices the boy entered the pool and rediscovered his love for the water. As a 4-year- old he can now confidently move through the water and roll onto his back for a breath, kick on his back, and dive under the water swimming 1-2m.

Nerilee Murphy – Aqua Programme Instructor

Region: Auckland Facility: West Wave Pools and Leisure Centre

What is your history in the Aquatics sector? I am the lead coordinator for aquatics and land group fitness programs for West Wave. I also teach Hydrotherapy classes for West Wave which are rehabilitation classes working around balance, coordination, flexibility, stability and core work.

How long have you been an Aquatics Fitness Instructor? That’s a good question. I have been in the fitness industry for 27 years now, I have been teaching for most of those years but have only been teaching aqua for about 7 years and absolutely love it. Why did you become an Aquatics Fitness Instructor? I started teaching aqua group fitness classes because I wanted to know what I was timetabling, I wanted to understand the programs and how the aqua programs helped people and what it involved for my aqua instructors.

What do you enjoy the most about being an Aquatics Fitness Instructor? The people and connection, I have developed a great rapport with the people I teach, we have fun in the classes, we sing, get cheeky and generally have fun. It’s about celebrating the good things and being there for my people when they need an ear. In my hydrotherapy classes it is all about helping and being told that “I can now walk up my steps at home due to these rehabilitation classes” achievement and enjoyment for my people is what I like most about the aqua classes. And on a real personal note it’s my time to sing, perform, motivate and come to life because when I am in front on my classes I feel free.

What do you find most challenging? Being able to timetable enough classes, being able to get instructors that will commit to classes. Personally, having time to work on my fitness, I teach so many classes and have been teaching for so long my body is ready to step aside and let someone younger take over, but I don’t want to leave my people.

Would you recommend becoming an Aquatics Fitness Instructor and why? Yes, being an aqua instructor gives you the freedom to shine and develop classes that will help and motivate people to get into fitness and enjoy it. It’s not hard, it does not feel like work, and you meet so many amazing people. The qualifications are not extensive, and you can work and learn at the same time.

What’s been one highlight for you as an Aquatics Fitness Instructor in the last year? Running a very successful two-day aqua workshop. We had some amazing people come through and the two days were filled with so much energy. It was an amazing experience to be able to qualify so many instructors in two days, it was epic.