Pride of NZ: Water teacher won't take a cent for efforts

Jude Beattie has been nominated for a Pride of New Zealand community spirit award. Photo / George Novak

Jude Beattie has been offering swimming and aquarobics lessons to the community for four years - and she hasn't made a cent.

She knew something was up when the women in her aquarobics class were passing around pieces of paper and whispering, so it was not a complete shock to be nominated for Pride of New Zealand.

Ms Beattie began attending aquarobics classes in Tauranga four years ago after a medical issue, then began offering her own in Omokoroa.

"I started it completely for me and was quite chuffed that other people wanted to do it as well. I made the programme and I lead it."

She was a competitive swimmer in her youth and is a self-confessed "water person".

Aquarobics involved a gruelling hour of work three times a week, each class equivalent to a run of an hour-and-a-half.

"We don't wave noodles in the air - we are there for a reason."

A lot of people recovering from operations or medical issues took part in the classes as it could be much easier to move in water.

She did not take a cent for the classes, no matter how much her pupils tried to convince her, but said she was "spoilt rotten" by her charges.

"It's a lovely community we have here."

Ms Beattie was convinced to get involved with children's swimming lessons after hearing conversations between parents while watching her grandchildren's football games.

"One guy was saying he couldn't afford to pay $150 for four kids' lessons. I thought, 'We can do this'."

Some of her women from aquarobics volunteered to help and together they offered swimming lessons at Omokoroa Campground swimming pool for local children.

Students from Omokoroa Point School and Pahoia School take part.

"We charge them a nominal amount like $10 for 10 lessons and give the school the money."

Ms Beattie went around to local businesses like Payless Plastics and Rebel Sports, which donated gear.

This is now the third year the classes have run.

Ms Beattie's reward is seeing the children she has helped improving their abilities and even competing in school sports. She said she loved seeing the looks on children's faces when they learned something new or achieved something they could not do before.

The Pride of New Zealand Awards are proudly brought to you by The New Zealand Herald, The Hits and TSB Bank.
Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
To see more stories of our wonderful nominees click here.
For more information on the awards go to the official website.