Swimming: Dedication earns swim chief award

Sport Northland's Swim For Life team leader Louise Collings with her award at the AUSTSWIM conference.

A Northland swimming team leader has been recognised at the AUSTSWIM conference and awards.

Sport Northland's Louise Collings picked up the top award for the AUSTSWIM Aotearoa Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety.

The award recognises excellence, commitment and innovation of an individual in the teaching of swimming and water safety who holds the AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Accreditation.

Collings has been the Sport Northland Swim For Life team leader since 2013 and co-ordinates the Top Energy WaterSafe and Northland Swim For Life programmes that are delivered free to more than 75 Northland primary and intermediate schools.

The award recognises her continued high standard in delivering the programmes, coupled with innovation she demonstrates to keep the programmes up-to-date and relevant.

Collings introduced 'Dryland' (classroom based) water safety sessions in term four to get the message about the importance of water safety out to students before the summer break.

Many school pools do not open until term one so the students were missing out on learning key skills before the busy Christmas and summer holidays.

This the second AUSTSWIM Aotearoa award Collings has picked up after winning the AUSTSWIM Aotearoa Outstanding Contribution to AUSTWIM award in 2014.

Sport Northland's community recreation manager Janine Moy couldn't have been prouder of Collings.

"Louise is absolutely deserving of the award. It's great to see her recognised nationally for all her dedication, passion and hard work she puts in to water safety," she said.