Jill Moore - Rotorua, New Zealand
I swim, I sing, I reflect, I pray.
I don’t worry about speed, just enjoyment.
It stretches out the muscles and relieves tension.
“I have no idea how swimming came into my life other than it was obviously important to my Mum and Dad their four children could swim. I am unsure why, as neither Mum or Dad were ‘swimmers’. Dad was into rowing and mum played rep tennis in her teenage years. I assume like most families, growing up in the 1960’s in New Zealand it was agreed for swimming to be part of the children’s upbringing. Thank you Mum and Dad.”
Competitive swimming was a family affair
“Over time the family developed an interest in pursuing swimming as our sport. Alongside my two older sisters and our younger brother, I moved into competitive swimming. We invested different periods of time in our swimming and achieved varied success during the late ’60s and throughout the ’70s. As we became increasingly interested in swimming, Mum and Dad ventured into supporting the swimming club’s organisation and administration. It became a family affair and swimming shaped the family’s routines and lifestyle. The early morning starts developed a good healthy outlook and routine for us children. I remember a period of standing in the frost at 5.30am, under a nearby streetlamp, waiting for coach ‘Bill’ to pick us up in his little car and take us to the pool for training.”
Many pools, one swimming squad
“During my younger days I was an immensely proud member of the ‘Aqua Bears’ swim school and the Maranui swimming club, coached by a gentleman called Tony. Swimming squads in those days needed to train across a variety of pools each week due to the limited access to pools for squad training. We used The Boys and Girls Institute facility, the NaeNae pool (an outdoor pool in my day), the outdoor Riddiford pool (built in 1929, closed in 1981, demolished in 1987), the Freyberg Pool, and the outdoor Thorndon pool.
“I loved it when my coaches really encouraged me to believe in myself and my ability, as my own self-belief was pretty fragile through the teen years. Swimming was demanding time-wise, but it helped me experience success and taught me the importance of setting goals and going after them. There were always new PBs to strive for! “
Many teammates swam for the love of it
“I recall watching members of our squad who were never going to win races yet they trained so hard and seemed to swim for the love of it. That was something I didn’t understand at the time. I do now, as I reflect on my ‘swimming years’”.
Swimming with Duncan Laing
“In 1970 we moved from Wellington to Dunedin (New Zealand) with our mother where I continued to swim with coach Bill, who had also moved to Dunedin, as part of the squad coached by New Zealand’s legendary coach, Duncan Laing (Mr Laing to all of us). Coach Bill being part of the team helped me transition into Mr Laing’s squads. The indoor 50m pool, Moana Pool was a fantastic change from the many Wellington outdoor pools we swam in.”
What are the main memories of your swimming experiences?
“I remember the camaraderie in the teams and squads even though I always felt on the edge of the group. Swimming carnivals was how I saw so much of New Zealand – mainly seeing the pool complexes, but also the towns which we travelled to for swim meets and the occasional ‘training camp’ in the summer.
“Away swimming trips in the 70’s often meant billeting with host families, which enabled us to become friends with numerous swimmers and families across New Zealand. Being billeted was always a nervous time for me, not knowing who I would stay with, but a good way to grow in self-confidence and gain additional experiences from the sport. Of course, we as a family reciprocated, hosting numerous out-of-town swimmers when they came to Wellington and Dunedin to compete.”
I was ready to give up competitive swimming
“I remember my interview process when applying for a position at the Dunedin Teachers College in 1974. The interviewing panel kept pushing me about my love for swimming and what would happen if I was sent to teach in a rural area without a good swimming pool. So weird! I assured them that it wouldn’t be a problem, as I planned on retiring from competitive swimming at the end of high school anyway. By then I had run out of self-motivation, the mental and emotional strength needed to pursue competitive swimming further. I was content with what I had achieved in swimming competitively.”
And now in later years
“A busy life juggling family and career, I hardly swam for decades. I did make sure my three children learnt to swim confidently so they too could enjoy the aquatic opportunities I had. We were living in Tokoroa (New Zealand) at the time, and I became involved in the local swimming club, helping out on club nights and teaching sessions. Although my children swim well, their preferred sporting interests and successes led them in other directions.
“When our children were teenagers and independent, I started swimming again in the newly built indoor 25m Tokoroa pool. I quickly fell back in love with the feel of the water and the exercise component of swimming laps, helping me to unwind and improve my fitness.
“In 2006 we moved to Rotorua. I had great intentions to swim regularly at the Rotorua Aquatics Centre. I even bought a 10-swim concession card, but life became extremely busy and it took two years to use up the card! . . . Yes, ten swims in two years. Oops!”
Back in the swim of things
“Over the last five years I have swam regularly, once a week on my day off, in the gorgeous 50m outdoor geothermally heated pool within the Rotorua Aquatics Centre, which is warm all year round; usually around 28 degrees C.
“I have learned to enjoy swimming again, setting some doable personal targets and having great satisfaction in achieving them. There aren’t many hard and fast laps included in my swims, the ‘steady-as-she-goes’ approach suits me best. The laps and strokes stretch out my muscles and relieve muscle tension. On clear days, I look up and see the clear blue sky. It’s my ‘happy place’.
“As I swim, I often sing, or reflect on the things that are front of mind. Or I pray. I don’t worry about speed, I truly enjoy the occasion! I seek the quiet times of the day to have my own lane. It feels amazing, so grateful to be alive and active, to have the ability to enjoy my swimming again.
“Over the last few years, I have built up to swim two kilometres, which I aim to achieve in less than 50 minutes. Now in my 60’s, I hugely appreciate the insistence of my Mum and Dad in making sure the ‘kids could swim’. It is still paying dividends.”
Do you have any targets with your swimming?
“In late 2019 my second son challenged me to consider a lake swim event in the ‘Oceania Banana Boat series’ so we entered the 1km swim at the Rotorua Blue Lake. I knew the distance would not be the issue, however the need to learn how to swim in a wetsuit was a steep learning curve! I unfortunately experienced a panic attack the first-time swimming in the lake in the wetsuit which really knocked my confidence.”
Swimming has taught me to apply myself, and to persevere
“Just after this incident I learned of a great community swim group who swim in the Blue Lake led by a terrific lady, Maxine. So I joined the weekly evening session and was blessed to meet so many encouraging people (mainly ladies) all aiming to participate in different events. With the support of the group, and encouragement of my family I began to enjoy swimming in the lake – the beautiful environment, the freedom – no lane lines to follow! COVID-19 put a stop to the event this year, so the entry is rolled over to March 2021. From the start of summer 20/21 I will be giving lake swimming another go with my simple goal ‘to finish’!
“This lake swim group led my Maxine, is connected with ‘Jogging the Power Poles’, a community group aimed at getting women active again; learning to run and bike in addition to their swimming. Some women, who had never run before, are now doing duathlons or triathlons! They enter events together and support each other. It’s great!”
What are your best swimming memories, Jill?
A swimming camp in Nelson one summer holiday – where I learned dolphin kick and from there progressed to swimming and enjoying butterfly
Swimming my first 100-yard butterfly at 10 years old – and breaking a long standing Wellington record
Representing Wellington at age 11 years but competing as a ten year old. In those days your age at 1st October each year determined your swimming age-group for the season. Having a mid-November birthday, I had what was called, a ‘lucky birthday’
Training in Lower Hutt town baths when the heating had broken down and the water was FREEZING!
I remember one morning at school (Wellington Girls College) a group of us swimmers were having our hot-from-a-flask breakfast between training and classes starting, the Deputy School Principal walked in and declared we looked like drowned rats!
We beat the men!
“A highlight was being a foundation female member of the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club, Wellington. The year they voted to allow women members, several of us from the Maranui Swim Club joined up, including my two sisters. That weekend they were to have their own club surf swim race. The weather was atrocious. A howling gale was blowing onto the shore and the sea was so choppy. A friend, Gayle, and I had agreed to swim together, but the water was so cold I wanted to get out asap. She didn’t want to go faster, so I took off and ended up coming 2nd, behind the male club captain. The other men were pretty peeved that the first weekend women were allowed in they were beaten!”
If a visitor came to your city, what places would you recommend they take a swim?
Definitely the Rotorua Aquatic Centre and the Blue Lake (in summer)
Where are the best places you have swum and recommend to other swimmers?
Ohope Beach is a beautiful beach to swim at - East Coast Bays, past Whakatane, New Zealand.
About Jill Moore.
Jill Moore trained and worked as a primary school teacher before her marriage to Dave turned her attention to the family farm and all the commitments life on the land demands. Jill and Dave are now Church Ministers, connecting people with their spiritual lives, helping them to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. As a counsellor, Jill sees and receives real joy and privilege in working with people as they seek wholeness and recovery from the negative experiences life has thrown at them.
“As a grandmother, I am enjoying playing with my grandchildren. At the Aquatics Centre last summer, I was a ‘young Jill’ again, playing tunnels and flipping somersaults with them. Dave and I have a real connection with our eight mokopuna (grandchildren) in and out of the water.
“I love working with children in my counselling too, in the hope that they can grow up with a healthier understanding of who they are and who they can be, and so not carry life-wounds into adulthood” she concludes.
A final word.
Swimming is a great sport, but don’t link your identity to your success. Keep enjoying it!