Swimming North Coast conducted its annual Multi Class /Para Swimming Day at South Grafton. This event has been running since 2014 and was designed to show young swimmers with disabilities and their families that through our participation and inclusion policies there are some of the great opportunities right here to become more involved in the sport. Over the years we have embraced a range of MC swimmers, mostly from the North Coast to share their stories of how becoming classified swimmers has changed their lives leading onto international competition and paralympic representation.
This year’s swimmer was Maddi McTernan, who is now based on the Gold Coast but started her paralympic journey right here on the North Coast in Coffs Harbour. Maddi was interviewed by SNC Development Committee member and coach, Helen Phipps, who has known Maddi since she was a member of Coffs Harbour Swimming Club. Maddi, proudly wearing her Australian representative uniform showed her medals achieved at various swim events including the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics. Young swimmers were impressed with her medals and were keen to be photographed alongside this impressive young lady, who has clearly shown that no matter where you start out is no barrier to achievement.
This year, we were very fortunate to have a guest speaker of the highest standard. Michael Anderson is the Para Pathways Manager for Swimming Australia, who has himself been a Paralympic swimmer and also started his career on the North Coast in the small town of Bellingen. Michael was able to explain clearly all about the classification process, how it works and how to get started. He was available all day to answer specific questions from parents, carers and swimmers.
The swimmers were keen to get involved with pool activities under the guidance of Head Coach, Michael Abel from Stroud Seals Swim Club. Michael has a flourishing squad of MC swimmers and has also had experience as a team manager attending the Virtus Games in France in 2021. Swimmers were divided into groups based on their swimming experience. We would like to thank Helen Phipps for her help as assistant coach over many years in this program and Karina Plunkett, who with endless patience and enthusiasm looked after our younger and more nervous swimmers. Development opportunities were also offered to local coaches and we thank them for their support and interest. The day concluded with a fun team based mini swim meet. Many thanks also to Helen Green from SNC Management Committee for organising this and providing the timing. Thank you to our secretary Jo Hodgson who helped with all the administration.
For the first time, Swimming NSW were able to arrange physical classification opportunities at the same venue, meaning that local swimmers had the opportunity to be classified without the long travel to Sydney. A number of swimmers and their families embraced this opportunity and some also stayed on to participate in the days activities. It was a pleasure to welcome Hannah Watkins back to North Coast now in her capacity as a fully qualified classifier alongside Marie Symonds. Hannah has previously attended these days, while living in the Ballina and Lismore areas, as a guest speaker and Head Coach. Together they completed 8 athlete reviews allowing a majority of these swimmers the opportunity to begin their participation in swimming as a multi-class athlete.
This combined venture was a great success resulting in us having the largest group of swimmers attending. All participants received certificates, presented by Michael Anderson.
Sadly this great venue at South Grafton Indoor pool will no longer exist next year. Many thanks go to the management and staff of this venue who have supported this program for the last eight years, as well as other North Coast Development Programs. We wish Allura Paterson and Alan a well earned retirement after a lifetime involvement in the sport of swimming, when this pool closes at the end of the year.
