Free Swimming Lessons for One Thousand Bay Aquababes

One thousand local youngsters will get the chance to learn to swim for free, thanks to a valuable collaboration between Bay Venues and McLeods.

Tina Harris-Ririnui, venues and programmes manager at Bay Venues, says generous support from McLeods means 1,000 children aged three and under will get to benefit from a full term of free swimming lessons. The Aquababes parent and child swimming lessons will be held during term three in the heated pools at Baywave and Greerton Aquatic Centre.

Parents are urged to register their young children for lessons during this term, as those in the Term Two Aquababes programme will be given first priority for the free Term Three lessons. Thereafter the free lessons will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The would-be Aquababes must be three months or older.

McLeod’s managing director Scott McLeod says the Aquababes programme sits nicely with the company’s safety first philosophy, and on-going support for water-safety initiatives. McLeod Group has, for example, been major sponsor to NZ Swim Coaches and Teachers’ Conference for the past three years; has supported national and local surf lifesaving endeavours for the past 20 years; and been swimming’s major sponsor at the AIMS Games for the past three years.

Aquababes is also a good fit, he says, given his mother’s key involvement in the New Zealand swimming and water safety scene.

Anne McLeod – who, with her late husband Curly, established the McLeod Group – has received many prestigious national swimming awards for her “outstanding” contribution to learning to swim and water safety programmes. She was the first woman to become a life member of the NZ Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.

Anne was a competitive swimmer and has taught hundreds of local children to swim, including Moss Burmester.

“Swimming is a passion for me, and this programme is close to my heart as it involves babies. Babies are not born with fear, so it’s a great thing if you can get them to be happy in water at an early age. Once you have that, learning to swim is easy,” Anne says.

“I would like to see babies, pre-schoolers and young school children all having the opportunity to access learn to swim classes and be happy in, on and under the water.

“The safety aspect is highly important. I believe swimming is the most important skill for children to learn in this country as we are surrounded by water.”

Anne says the Aquababes programme offered McLeods a perfect opportunity to again give back to the community.

To enrol your child into Term Two lessons, phone Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre on 577 8550 or Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre on 577 8552.