Free swimming lessons, baby

Anne McLeod has taught hundreds of local children to swim, including Moss Burmester, and is now sponsoring free lessons for 1000 local youngsters through her family business. Photo: SUPPLIED

Calling all waterbabies -- 1000 local youngsters can learn to swim for a term for free, thanks to a collaboration between Bay Venues and local crane and transport company, McLeods.

McLeod's managing director Scott McLeod says Aquababes is a good fit given his mother's key involvement in the New Zealand swimming and water safety scene.

Anne McLeod -- who, with her late husband Curly, established the McLeod Group -- has received many national swimming awards for her "outstanding" contribution to learning to swim and water safety programmes. She was the first woman to become a life member of the New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.

Anne was a competitive swimmer and has taught hundreds of local children to swim, including Moss Burmester.

"Swimming is a passion for me, and this programme is close to my heart as it involves babies," Anne say.

"Babies are not born with fear, so it's a great thing if you can get them to be happy in water at an early age. Once you have that, learning to swim is easy."

Anne says she would like to see babies, pre-schoolers and young school children all have access to learn to swim classes and be happy in, on and under the water.

"The safety aspect is highly important. I believe swimming is the most important skill for children to learn in this country, as we are surrounded by water."

The Aquababes parent and child swimming lessons will be held during term three at Baywave and Greerton Aquatic Centre, though parents are urged to register early, as kids in the term two Aquababes programme will be given first priority for the free lessons.

Thereafter, the free lessons will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Would-be Aquababes must be between three months and three years old.

- To enrol your child into term two lessons, phone Baywave on 5778550 or Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre on 5778552.