FOR more than two decades Tanya Gibson has dedicated much of her life teaching local children how to swim.
Her passion for swimming began at a young age and, growing up in Gippsland, she spent many hours in the pool.
She was part of the local swim club and progressed through the ranks, representing her club at both regional and state levels.
Leaving school at 15, she moved to Melbourne for work but she never gave up her love for swimming.
“I would swim at lunch time,” she said.
“I loved the water.”
She met her husband Gary in Melbourne and moved to the Nyah region in the late 1990s to be closer to his family, who ran a wheat and sheep farm in Manangatang.
Ms Gibson said she’s been inspired by many strong women throughout her life.
While her grandmothers were her role models growing up, Ms Gibson formed a strong bond with the late Lois Darbyshire, founding member of the Lake Boga Lifesaving Club, when she moved to the region.
“She became my mentor,” Ms Gibson said.
“I started under her wing teaching people who couldn’t afford lessons how to swim.”
She continued to hone her skills, gaining her Bronze Medallion and other lifesaving qualifications.
Throughout her life she has taken up various roles at a number of swimming facilities within the region, from swim instructor and lifeguard to duty manager.
About 10 years ago, she formed another strong bond with fellow swim instructor Sonia Aston, with the duo going on to start up their own business.
Working from the specialist school, Ms Gibson said demand outweighed their ability to provide lessons.
“We had a waiting list which was pages and pages long,” she said.
Determined to help as many families as she could, Ms Gibson began offering lessons at her own pool to help meet the demand.
“The wait list didn’t go down, it grew,” she laughed.
Today, Ms Gibson continues to teach from her home attracting students from throughout the region, including Murrabit, Ouyen, Manangatang, Lake Boga, Swan Hill and Boundary Bend.
Each week she has around 170 students, ranging in age from six months to 12 years.
When she’s not in the pool, she’s working on her family farm.
The 44-acre property harvests seasonal organic fruit and vegetables.
In between, she’s raised her four children, including three daughters and has worked in both childcare and aged care.
Ms Gibson said her role was very rewarding and she’s grateful she’s had the opportunity to teach a lifelong skill.
“I love seeing the children come through,” she said.
“I get such a thrill when they go through their development stages. It’s like when a baby takes their first step, you are there.
“I get great joy out of seeing their achievements, it makes my day.”
