Anniversary splash: swim school to open second centre

A LIFEBLOOD of the community that has been a part of thousands of Ballarat families’ lives has turned 15.

Shayne Reese Swimming marked the significant milestone on Wednesday this week.

But rather than accepting gifts, it is Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Reese and husband Luke Harper who are doing the giving as part of the anniversary celebrations.

In a win for the city, the couple have committed to opening a second swim centre.

Work on the facility at Lucas is earmarked to start later this year and is expected to be completed sometime next year.

The vision for a second site has been at least four years in the making.

It will allow even more families across Ballarat and surrounding communities to access the high-quality swimming and water safety education the Delacombe centre has become renowned for.

Founded in 2011, the swim school was built on a simple but powerful vision to provide world-class swimming and water safety education.

For the Ballarat-born 43-year-old, who won 4 x 100m medley relay gold and 4 x 100m freestyle relay gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (only swimming in the heats), swimming lessons have always been about far more than learning strokes; they are about building safer, stronger and more confident children for life.

“My vision was always bigger than swimming lessons,” Reese said.

“It was about helping children build confidence, resilience and life-saving skills, while working towards making Ballarat a true ‘No Drown Town’.”

The school’s philosophy is a simple one, with lessons developed, fine-tuned and carefully planned to help children progress at their own rate and within their own individual capabilities.

And crucially, without the use of floatation devices.

 

While the growth of the business has exceeded her expectations, Reese insists the greatest achievements aren’t measured by enrolment numbers.

“The moments I’m most proud of are seeing children overcome their fear of water, watching students progress to compete at a national level, and seeing former students return years later as teachers and leaders within our team,” she said.

“The business has evolved significantly over the past 15 years, investing in facilities, technology, staff development and expanded programs.

“However, its core purpose has remained unchanged, delivering exceptional swimming and water safety education while creating positive experiences for every family.”

Reflecting on the past 15 years, Reese admitted it had not been without challenges, none bigger than during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many businesses were forced to shut their doors for months and months.

She and Harper will forever be indebted to the loyal families, dedicated staff and commitment of the Ballarat community for not just seeing them through, but helping them ’emerge even stronger’.

“Our families and team stood by us during the toughest period we’ve faced,” said Reece, who won more international 4x100m freestyle relay gold at the 2005 and 2007 world championships and 2006 Commonwealth Games.

“It reinforced just how resilient and connected our community really is.

“This milestone simply wouldn’t exist without our people.

“Every lesson taught, every child encouraged and every family supported has contributed to where we are today.

“It is incredibly humbling to know we’ve played a role in helping thousands of children become safer and more confident around water.

“That’s something I never take for granted.”

For Reese, the motivation remains the same as it was on day one when it comes to water safety education and teaching children to swim.

“Every day we have the opportunity to teach a skill that could save a child’s life,” she said, reinforcing her commitment to the ‘No Drown Town’ mantra.

“That’s what drives us.

“If people remember Shayne Reese Swimming as a place that genuinely cared about every child and helped make them safer, more confident and more capable in the water, then that’s a legacy worth being proud of.”