|
Murray Pioneer (January 23rd)
 Amy makes big splash at Vacswim
Amy Edington has been participating in the HomeStart Vacswim program since she was eight, but she was still a little nervous going for her distinction qualification last week.
"It was a lot of work," she said. "I got taught in the morning, then 1 taught swimming through the day and did club training at night."
Amy, 17, was the only Vacswim participant to achieve a distinction in the Riverland in 1998. The distinction qualifies her to instruct others in water skills, including survival and rescue techniques. It is the highest award possible in the Vacswim program.
"I've always loved swimming and just being in the water," she said. Amy also swims competitively and plays water polo in Adelaide. She also enjoys netball and athletics.
Amy, who has been a swimming instructor at Loxton for two years and an assistant at Berri before that, said she gets a lot of satisfaction from seeing her young charges improve.
"I teach levels two to seven," she said. "They're often mixed classes, so you have to be pretty organised. The first week was a little uncomfortable because of the cold, but we've had good weather since."
Amy said she would like to make a career out of teaching people how to swim.
"There's so many things out there to do," she said. "But I'd like to continue instructing, or maybe coaching or sports training.
I enjoy it a lot."
Amy is about to begin Year 12 at Pembroke College in Adelaide. She said she had a bit of trouble adjusting to moving away from home last year, but she's really "into if' now.
"It's great staying there," she said. "You get to meet lots of interesting people, and I stay with quite a few from overseas." Somehow she manages to fit a social life in between her school and sporting commitments,
"I have to be super-organised," she said.
Most young athletes have a sporting idol and Amy reserves her admiration for most" of the Australian swimming team.
"I admire their dedication and the time they put in," she said. "I train a few hours a week, while they train at least four hours a day. They spend their whole life swimming.
I can't do that - I think it's important to enjoy yourself too.
"As for drugs and hormones, I suppose a lot of people will do anything to get to the top, but it's better to do it naturally. I don't want to have a deep voice and a hairy chest."
|