Aquatic Mentors

Podcast Interview – Kristy Manton

In this episode I speak with Kristy Manton one of the owners of Sweeney’s Swim School in Altona in Melbourne, Victoria. Kristy started teaching at Sweeny’s Swim School from 16 and after graduating she worked in other facilities where she worked her way up to assistant manager of large-scale aquatic centres.

When it came time for her children to learn to swim Kristy took them back to the where her swim teaching career began and four years ago, she was given the opportunity to become a part owner in the Sweeney’s Swim School.

Kristy achieved her dream of owning her own pool and used the experience she gained in the industry to develop the swim school into a thriving business which emphasis her passion for the industry.

A big lesson Kristy learnt through her career is to have patience with people and staff and for her to have the confidence to jump into the idea of owning her own swim school with her husband. She also mentioned that being able to adapt and change especially in this current climate makes life and business a lot easier.

Kristy’s main personal highlight was purchasing her own swim school and another career highlight was working with a group of Burmese refugee children in a Learn to Swim program where she learnt a number of cultural insights and the program expanded to include adults’ lessons. Through the swimming lessons inspired some of the adult participants become swim teachers and lifeguards themselves helping to expand the aquatic industry.

Kristy has a number of mentors which have helped her through her aquatic career including the founder of Sweeney’s Swim School, Joan Sweeney and centre managers from the other swim schools she worked in over the years. Kristy’s parents and family also play a major role in her life offering advice like, ‘Everyone is replaceable’. Going into business with her husband has given her another level of respect for her husband and has elevated their partnership together.

When looking for new staff Kristy looks for people who have a love for swimming and for people and kids as well. Kristy believes those wanting to work in care giving service role are a great fit for the aquatic industry.

Kristy reminds her staff to remember they are the instructors so they need to take charge of the lesson but to also have the patience to work with children and their parents. She also reminds her younger staff members to have the confidence to take charge and to communicate their instructions through the use of their hands and arms.

Staff who want to learn are also impressive and Kristy encourages her staff to learn from each other as well as to continually learn throughout their career.

Her staff need to be reliable and consistent in their work as well as loving the work you do.

Kristy enjoys having a mix of staff with different communicative styles is great for her business and her clients.

Into the future Kristy believes that her clients are looking for a better-quality swimming lesson as they are more informed through technology and education for the parents is also key to her business.

Once a month Kristy includes a water safety component in her lessons so it becomes second nature for the swimmers and their families which has been a big bonus to one of her families who’s 3 year old child fell into the family pool and was able to float and kick to the pools edge and pull themselves out of the pool. During the water safety sessions Kristy’s staff teach a wide range of water safety skills for different environments as their swim school is near the beach and a large lake.

Kristy believes promoting swimming as a life saving skill which can give people the opportunity to try other water-based activities into the swimmer’s future will be helpful to encourage the public to take part in swimming lessons. She believes children need to have a love for the sport and we have to understand that not all children want to become Olympic swimmers.

One of her previous students used her swimming skills to become a lifeguard and work at the Disney theme parks in USA as a lifeguard.

During Covid-19 the use of technology has taken over as the key way to keep people and businesses connected and communicating. Kristy remembered joining one of the first ASCTA online meetings where she noticed over 100 swim schools where logged in. It was a great opportunity for the industry to connect and swim schools from all areas and backgrounds where able to learn and share ideas. This is something Kristy believes will make a big impact to the aquatic industry and it is a simple idea we can continue to use into the future to connect the industry more often. These group meetings have help Kristy trough the Covid-19 lockdown by offering support and understanding as she was able to connect with people who where in the same position as her.

I would like to thank Kristy Manton for taking the time to share her story with us today and I hope you all learn from her experiences as much as I have.

This episode was recorded during the first few weeks of the Australia wide lockdown so some comments relate to actions during this time period.

Thank you for listening.

Kristy Manton’s Contact Information:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.swimminglessonsaltona.com.au/

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Carol Fox Interview

As an Executive Coach, Conference Speaker and Masterclass Facilitator, Carol Fox has assisted thousands of people in improving their personal and professional lives through building confidence, finding motivation and learning better ways to communicate. For 30 years, she has collaborated with all levels of government, not-for-profit and corporate clients sharing practical, effective concepts from her best-selling book Confident Communication for Leaders.

Carol’s knowledge base has been bolstered by her time lecturing in two subjects at Victoria University plus a plethora of professional qualifications across science, education and therapeutic fields. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, a Graduate Diploma in Education and is currently studying her PhD in Clinical Hypnotherapy. Her influential master’s degree thesis, Women’s Perceived Barriers to Elite Coaching Positions in Australian Sport, helped to establish Carol as a serious name in leadership and equality issues. This thesis - exploring the apparent social, cultural and institutional pressures placed upon women in top coaching roles - positively impacted the Australian Sports Commission into easing some of these barriers when determining their future policies. Carol is also internationally qualified in Neuro Linguistic Programming, Time Line Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Matrix Therapies and as a celebrant.

Further background as Victoria’s first professional female surf lifesaver, a state-level swimmer and water-polo player, coaching and even competing against men in ironman competitions has given Carol invaluable insight into the mentality required to be a leader that translates to general life and business.

Carol is the President of Women Sport Australia (advocating for gender equality across wages, resources and opportunities) and was chosen to be a baton bearer for the 2018 Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay.

Carol Fox Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolfoxco/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.carolfox.com/

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode - Eric Du

Eric is a passionate and dedicated professional with experiences in the aquatics and administration industry. Specialising in innovative and development of teachers with sound experiences from teaching various abilities in diverse communities, whilst building rapport with customers. He has a broad range of experience in general administration in a range of financial, reporting and system improvements; human resource management in developing and training staff.

He is the general manager for Learn To Swim Victoria, located in Heidelberg and Ivanhoe, Victoria. Overseeing all aspects of the business not limited to aquatic programming and development, human resources and payroll, OHS and pool operations, facility maintenance and cleaning.

Eric has also worked for Mentone Grammar, Monash University with their swimming program and School Sport Victoria as a sport convener dealing with various school coordinators, coaches, teachers and students.

Eric Du's Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-du-a75466137/

Learn to Swim Victoria Website: https://www.learntoswimvic.com.au/

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Sam Kane

Sam Kane is a 21-year-old Bendigo local.

In 2012, Sam joined the community campaign to save Golden Square Pool from closure. Upon success in 2013, Sam joined the pool’s Committee of Management as its youngest member, and in 2018 was elected by the pool’s volunteers and members as the organisation’s President.

Sam now leads a passionate committee and a team of 90 volunteers and 10 staff to ensure the successful day-to-day operation of the facility, that has been transformed into a vibrant community hub that has welcomed over 108,000 patrons through the gates in just seven seasons.

In 2019, Sam was named City of Greater Bendigo’s Young Citizen of the Year for his service to the Golden Square community. He currently studies Politics and Media and Communications at The University of Melbourne.

Sam Kane’s Contact Information:

Facebook: Sam Kane

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-kane-298769137/

Golden Square Pools Contact Information:

Facebook: Golden Square Pool

Website: https://www.goldensquarepool.com.au/

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Simon Watkins Interview

Simon has worked in the Aquatic Industry for 20 years.

Simon started Teaching and Coaching in the UK in 1996, opening his first private Swim School in 1999.

Simon has Taught and Coached athletes at all levels of our sport from babies to Olympians and Paralympics

Simon is an ASCTA NSW Director and a Member of the Swim Australia Advisory Committee.

Simon currently presents the ASCTA/Swim Australia suite of courses along with modules for the Development, Advanced and Performance qualifications of Swimming Australia in Australia and overseas.

Simon and his wife Hannah run WAT Sports which operates Swim Schools in five facilities throughout NSW and Queensland whilst consulting to many overseas Swim Schools.

Simon’s Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-watkins-31babab7/

Website: www.swimambyth.com.au

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Feeling of Self Doubt

Intro –

Today I wanted to share with you something which affects me and I believe it affects all of us at some stage in our lives. I’m talking about the feeling of self-doubt.

Before starting this podcast, I went through an emotional roller coaster of feelings. I didn’t think anyone would listen, I didn’t think I had the knowledge to start a podcast and I didn’t think anyone would want to be interviewed by me.

I lacked the confidence in my abilities which caused the self-doubt to seep in.

Content -

Definition of self-doubt

o lack of confidence in the reliability of one's own motives, personality, thought, etc.

o fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions.

o lack of confidence in oneself and one's abilities.

o I believe women are more susceptible to self-doubt.

Were my self-doubt coming from

o My self-doubt stems from my childhood experience not just one specific experience but the accumulative effect of a number of smaller experiences.

o If your facing self-doubt you may look back and find one specific experience in your past that caused you to doubt your self or you may be like me and it’s an accumulative effect of different experiences.

o When looking back we may find that these experiences included people close to us and they could be very painful experiences. If this is the case, I encourage you to contact a professional councillor or psychologist to help you understand the experiences and their effect on your life.

o If the experiences involve someone you care about in most cases, we must remember that they were doing what they thought was best at the time and in their mind.

o Another person’s reality is different to your own.

Triggers-starting something new

o Emotional triggers are people, words, opinions, situations, or environmental situations that provoke an intense and excessive emotional reaction within us. Common emotions that we experience while being triggered include anger, rage, sadness, and fear. Virtually anything can trigger us, depending on our beliefs, values, and earlier life experiences such as a tone of voice, a type of person, a particular viewpoint, a single word – anything can be a trigger.

o I have triggers including starting a new project and when someone questions why I doing something

How its effecting me recording podcast episodes

o My self-doubt made me delay in starting the podcast

o Taking the first step to asking for interviews and returning emails to those that volunteered their time.

How it affects me in my normal life

o I think of ideas but never follow through because I don’t believe I am good enough

o I put off or procrastinate about things

o I become defensive if people question my ability

Is it something that’s with me for life?

o Yes, I believe it is something I will have to live with especially as a woman but it will decrease as I become more confident in my abilities and what I know

How can I fix it/work on it?

o Realising that I can’t choose how I feel but I can always choose what I think and do with those feelings.

o The feelings are natural but my behaviour and thoughts are a choice.

o Mel Robins talked about the self-doubt cycle

§ Fear of failure -> Over thinking -> Doubting yourself

§ Change that too – Fear of failure -> Take action -> which than gives confidence and the cycle repeats

While researching podcast’s I came across the following 2 quote’s which really influenced me and pushed me to take the podcast live

Quote 1: It’s not all about your experience, it’s about having something to share

Quote 2 by Gary Vaynerchuck: ‘If you don’t have the experience your place is in sharing your ideas, hypothesises and opinions.’

Questions –

How does self-doubt affect you and how do you combat it?

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Julie-ann James Interview

Julie-ann is a swimming Industry Pioneer and founder of Aquababies Global. With her background in competitive swimming she researched and set up Aquababies based on structured, sensory, baby, toddler & family swimming lessons. She has been at the forefront of the development of many well-known international companies in the swimming industry and is respected worldwide as the authority on educational swimming.

As an Aqua Consultant Julie-ann & her team work with companies to find solutions to increase their pool timetable by introducing new innovative concepts & offering staff training to shape their creative leadership.

Julie-ann is a Global Guest Speaker and has spoken on TV about her work around the Health Benefits of Swimming for Parent & Child and the benefits of Aqua Therapy for Mental Health, Post Natal Depression.

She is also a promotor of the Aquafitness Revolution, working alongside of Aquatraining Portugal, Aqquatix.

Julie-ann James Contact Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ann-james-5587b35b/

Website: https://www.aquababiesglobal.com/

Email: [email protected]

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Episode – Haydn Belshaw Interview

Experience:

Director of Aquatic Centre - Barker College

Managing Director/Founder - Podium - Sports Training and Consulting

Managing Director/Founder - Performance Swimming (Training/Education and Consulting)

Board Of Directors - Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (NSW Branch)

Board of Directors - Aquatic Management Committee, Swimming NSW

Previous Experience:

Board Of Directors - Australian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association

Board of Directors - Coach Accreditation and Development Advisory Committee, Swimming Australia

National Coach (Fiji) - Pan Pacific Championships 2014

Head Coach - Fiji National Youth Team Camp 2014

Head Coach - Fiji Pacific Games Team Camp 2015

Head Coach - Solomon Islands National Team Camp 2015

ASCTA/Swim Australia Course Presenter

Haydn’s Contact Information:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/haydn-belshaw-27a53615/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.podiumstc.com.au/

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode - My Leadership Story

My leadership journey is just beginning but I have always been driven by my want to help another person achieve their best. Helping people through teaching became a big focus for me and I really enjoy sharing the knowledge I have.

I learnt to be independent early as my family’s life revolved around my sporty sister and I needed to entertain myself during the many hours in the car driving to and from her training. This time allowed me to build a creative mindset where I used to make up my own games, stories and songs.

After many years of doctor’s appointments I was diagnosed at the age of 8 with a Neuro Muscular Disorder meaning my muscles are weaker than the average person and I am prone to muscular injuries. It was great to finally receive an answer for all my injuries but it also became a crutch to lean on as I grew older. I used it as an excuse to stop trying new things and blamed my disorder when my life went wrong.

While explaining my disorder to other people my mother would call it a disability but I never felt like I was disabled as I wasn’t in a wheelchair or missing a limb but on the other hand I was neither able bodied or coordinated enough to be classed as normal. To help me develop physically my mother enrolled me in classes and activities for disabled children and while I was always thankful for the opportunity to try new things I look back now and realise this cemented in my thoughts the idea that something was wrong with me although it developed the passion to advocate for the disadvantaged and the underdog.

Moving into my later Primary School and High School years I was bullied, a lot. Over the years I developed a resilience to the taunts which helped me to ignore them and a visit to a Psychologist gave me strategies to help deflect the harsh words although they can still impact me later in life.

Just before my 18th birthday my family and I moved to Bendigo where I worked in a call centre during the evenings. The environment at this business was very toxic with most of the team leaders sleeping their way to the top and one of my bosses being arrested for stealing from the company. My parents also had a Saddlery Story that ultimately wasn’t the success they hoped for. These experiences opened my eyes to how I did not want to lead and run a business and I spent many years thinking owning your own business was always a financial struggle which didn’t pay off. Years later I now run my own business and I am focusing on expanding this coming Summer.

Meeting my now husband and moving to the even more rural town of Pyramid Hill was a godsend for me and offered me the escape I needed to build on my independence and make my own discoveries. The move forced me to develop my skills of connection and networking and find my place in the small, tight knit rural community.

Experiencing the 2011 floods as well as the ongoing drought in such a small town which relies on farming to survive has shown me the value of community and how we can come together to support each other.

During our years of marriage my husband has taught me to trust in who I am and what I know. Through his strength and security I have been able to develop my own identity and find my unique qualities.

Having my 3 beautiful children has been a whirl wind adventure that I am thankful to have experienced. They have retaught me the value of family but on my terms as well as how being an individual and not fitting in can be an advantage. Another big value my children have taught me is flexibility in all its forms. I love having a passion and business I can fit around my family. I bring flexibility into business and leadership by understanding when even the best laid plans need to be changed.

I quickly realised that my career in the Aquatic industry was never going to be normal and I have always embraced that fact. My leadership skills developed quickly as I opened my Swim School in our local council pool over Summer and more and more parents enrolled their children. My goal became to educate the children as well as their parents about water safety and swimming. That goal for education has now developed into a value I take into all my roles in the Aquatics industry.

Through my 6 year journey in the Aquatics I have been influenced and guided by many lovely individuals. I have been lucky enough to have legends in the sport take the time to listen to my ideas as well as offer their guidance. Some of these people have become keen mentors who I can call on for advice at any time. From their connection I developed the passion to give back to the industry and I take every opportunity I can to help others.

I believe education and learning is a big key in my leadership role and I always look for ways to upskilling myself and my staff in areas which are beneficial to not just my business but our own skill set as well. I find it easy to identify a staff members skill and move to enhance these while also working at developing those skills they may struggle with. I believe this strength comes from being able to self-reflect on my own abilities and identifying them in others while taking the time to recognise their own behaviour patterns and giving them the opportunities to try new roles and activities.

As I grow and mature I enjoy experimenting throughout my life. I find this is a great skill to bring into leadership and my business especially in regional and rural areas where each town can be totally different. Experimenting allows my business to grow organically and helps us all remember there are no failures in life, just outcomes.

These are only snippets of my life stories which have influenced how I want to lead my team in the future. These experiences have shaped me, my business and the way I want to guide others.

I know I am only early into my leadership journey and career but I can see great things coming along my path. With the help of my family and business I look forward to building a future in the Aquatics industry which resembles the passion and commitment I have inside.       

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics

Podcast Episode – Gary Interview

Gary is the current Executive Officer of Swim Australia / ASCTA and has been in aquatics as a teacher, coach, swim school owner, and many other roles during the past 40 years. Gary overseas Swim Safer week and other Swim Australia programs conducted around Australia and internationally.

Gary is a Gold Coach who has been on Australian Swim teams as both a coach and manager.

Gary spent 16 years in the USA teaching, coaching and running a pool management company building a vast array skills, knowledge and contacts.

Gary has a keen interest in open water swimming.

Gary is married to Suzy (Silver Coach) and have 2 children both working in the aquatics industry while attending university.

Gary Toners Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-toner-231a0b31/

ASCTA Contact Information:

Website: www.acsta.com

Facebook: ASCTA

Katrina van Eyk's Contact Information:

Aquatic Mentors - https://www.aquaticmentors.com.au/

Facebook - Aquatic Mentors

Regional Swim Clinics - www.regionalswimclinics.com.au

Email - [email protected]

Facebook - Regional Swim Clinics