Rosemary Eastaughffe - Brisbane, Australia
“I love what I do, and developing children’s water confidence and swimming gives me real satisfaction.
I love the challenges a reluctant child brings to a lesson.”
“It all started with a passing opportunity. I had been travelling around Australia in a double decker bus with my then husband. We stayed in the Northern Territory for two years, but when our daughter Leisel turned one, we returned to the Brisbane area, built a house in Wamuran and looked to settle down.
“I secured a cleaning and babysitting job at Clifford Swim School, in Burpengary some 25 kilometres south of our new home. I was aware the swim school needed additional teachers, so I offered to learn swimming teaching, studied and passed the relevant qualifications to teach swimming to young children, and before long I was an accredited swim teacher. When I look back, it is one of the best things I have ever done; I had found my ‘purpose’, which continues to be one of my biggest passions. Over 30 years years later I still love what I do.
“My initial career ambition was to become a nurse. My eldest brother is a doctor and helping people appealed to me. Little did I know at the time I would help others, just not in the direction I had envisaged.
“Instead, swim teaching was, and still is, my pathway. Eight years with the Clifford Swim School, followed by 10 years at the Redcliffe High Performance Centre (Brisbane, Australia), and now into my 13th year with Aquatic Achievers (Brisbane). I truly enjoy it. I am still true to my vision of ‘helping people’ by teaching children from babies to 10 years olds, and mentoring the younger teachers I work with. It is a true privilege which I embrace each week.”
Share a special pupil success story Rosie
“One very memorable student was a young boy I taught. He had cerebral palsy so we worked together on a one-on-one basis. My end goal was to see him enjoy being in the water, with a level of confidence and competence to allow him to be water safe. I knew what he was capable of but the standard teaching methods weren’t going to get us there. We worked steadily together, his swimming became stronger until he was able to swim 300m non-stop. I realised early on teaching traditional freestyle, which is the main stroke taught and swum in Australia, wasn’t right for him. But swimming backstroke gave him the freedom and capabilities to swim well. He is now in the UK and I hope he continues to swim and show others what he is capable of.”
Were you a swimmer yourself Rosie?
“Not really. I grew up on the family farm in the southern highlands of NSW (145 km south of Sydney). Swimming options were limited. While my secondary school years were in Sydney swimming didn’t factor in my life. Once I started swimming teaching I looked at my own abilities. Before joining the teaching staff at the Redcliffe High Performance Centre I took and passed my Bronze Medallion; formal Life Saving skills and knowledge in swimming rescue, personal survival and emergency care.”
Why do you still teach Rosie? What keeps you going?
“I love what I do, and developing children’s water confidence and swimming gives me real satisfaction.
I love the challenges a reluctant child brings to a lesson. Working with them in building trust, developing their confidence and then their water skills is tremendously rewarding. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the “I never thought this would happen” moments and the ‘relief’ of parents as they see their young scared, reluctant, or stubborn child become water confident and happy to swim.
“I also thrive in a team environment, working with my teacher and customer service colleagues. Like most swim schools, many of the staff are young people. Working with and mentoring the younger team members to grow as swimming teachers, and be better at their job, also drives me.
“I am proud when a beginner swimmer (be they a child or an adult) achieves something which previously they thought was beyond them, and heartened when I see a young teacher flourish by using my help to expand their abilities.”
What is your secret ingredient Rosie?
“Like all teachers, I have made mistakes during my teaching years. I make a point of learning from these mistakes, and I have always been open to improving my teaching. After 30 plus years of teaching, I still regularly attend professional development conferences, classes and sessions, and generally watch, listen and learn from others. People who have all contributed to the teacher I am today include Laurie Lawrence, Neil Douglas, Cameron Speechly, Scott Wilson and colleague Ryan Crane. I admire Ryans’ love of teaching, his calmness, his constant thinking to achieve goals, and now he is passing on his knowledge to others.
“I am often looking for new ways to work with pupils. The swim schools I have worked with are recognised as having leading programs in the Brisbane area. I aim to balance the swim school mission and programs with care for the individual children; their confidence levels, demeanour, body language, cultural sensitivities and also the concerns of the parents’ behaviours and mindset.
“I strongly believe that the best way to connect with children is through a lot of encouragement, using distraction techniques where required, keeping a very positive friendly disposition to help each child feel comfortable.
“I aim to make the learning to swim experience a family one. Sometimes the challenge is to help the family members realise their child is making more progress than can be seen from poolside each lesson.
“I also enjoy teaching non-swimming adults. They often have the same fears and concerns as a young child but it can, at times, be more of a challenge. The myth that all Aussies are good swimmers is incorrect.”
Rosie the ‘Spanish speaking’ swim teacher
“About four years ago a three year old Spanish boy with limited English arrived at the swim school, a little nervous about swimming, but more so due to the language difference. So to help him I decided to learn Spanish. I initially learnt the simple things, those relational to a three year old, colours, numbers and animals, so we could communicate and he would feel more comfortable. It worked and we learnt from each other.
Starting this inspired me to push on and enrol in Spanish speaking night classes. And I keep it up daily via a language learning app. Four years later, I still spend some of my day, learning Spanish
I am not fluent but I can now chat to the many Spanish families we have at our pool. I still count in Spanish in my classes. Counting is a tool I use with many of my students to help extend their swimming skills.“
In what ways has swimming shaped your life Rosie?
“Most of my working life has been centred around teaching swimming, but I have also travelled the world as a very proud ‘swimming’ mother of four-time Olympian Leisel Jones.
Leisel’s elite level career started when she was a teenager, initially at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney through to her retirement following the London Games in 2012. Being on this journey with Leisel has been amazing. As her mum I have visited many parts of the world, supporting Leisel and celebrating her successes with her.
Of one many recollections I have from Leisel’s performances was during the Sydney Games. I was with my wider family carrying the medal-winners flowers bouquet Leisel had given to me following the ceremony. As we walked through the crowd at the end of the competition, I felt so proud, something that will always be with me.
And the other huge highlight was to be poolside the night Leisel won gold in Beijing.
I also met my husband, Brian, through swimming. So yes, swimming has been a big part of my life.”
What’s ahead Rosie?
“When the time is right I will retire from swim teaching. Brian and I have plans to travel, visiting Italy and Spain. We like to bush walk, so that will become a focal part of our lives. But before I hang up the teaching uniform, there are plenty of swimmers and swim teachers I want to work with and help succeed.”
Finally, what tips do you want to share with others that are teaching children or adults swimming?
“Be very patient with your students. Aim for them to be enjoying their water experiences. I have found that if you try to rush them they can become too cautious in the water. Taking it at their pace is the approach I recommend.
“Be a clown at times - a comment made to me by Laurie Lawrence when I attended a swim teacher trainee course at the start of my teaching career, who said “when you get in the pool, put on your clown suit”. It works. I use it regularly. Try it!”
