Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
TEACHING kids to swim has always been close to home for Belinda Hackett. But it’s about to become even more so.
The swimming teacher and mother-of-three is set to launch Bendigo’s newest private swim school, right by her own back door.
The new business is the latest step in Belinda’s 14-year career, which has seen her teach thousands of Bendigo kids to swim.
Splash Swimming Bendigo has started taking enrolments for term two, and the programs are filling up fast.
“I think it’s important for kids to learn to swim and there’s a need for more swimming schools in Bendigo, we don’t have enough,” Belinda said.
“The reason I went out on my own is there are many parents who are struggling to get their children into a swimming group.
“This was an opportunity for me to have my own business and cater for children one-on-one or in private swimming groups of up to four and help these families out.”
Belinda is a passionate advocate for water safety and giving children of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the water.
Her lessons follow Life Saving Victoria’s Swim and Survive program.
“There are still too many drownings, especially in backyard pools,” she said.
“Swimming is a life skill, they have to have it. I’d like to see swimming become compulsory in schools.”
Belinda is also one of few swimming teachers in Bendigo qualified with the AustSwim Kickstart Program, which caters for children with special needs.
“I teach one little boy who’s eight who has autism,” she said.
“When I first met him he was really scared of the water, he couldn’t put his face under.
“He is very good at counting and maths, so I brought that into his swimming program.
“I put gold coins in the shallow end for him and eventually he could go under the water to retrieve them.
“Now we can’t get him out of the water.”
Belinda said her indoor heated saltwater pool would cater for mums and bubs, right up to adult lessons and water aerobics classes.
Splash Swimming Bendigo is located in Wood Street, California Gully.
For more information, call Belinda Hackett on 0409 002 020