Swimming
I have participated in sport my whole life. My swimming journey started in the baby class at just 9 months. By 9 years of age, I had graduated from the Kings Learn to Swim program and transitioned immediately to squad training and competitive swimming. Demanding more of myself and building towards an elite level, I moved to Casey Tiger-Sharks. Swimming with Commonwealth and Olympic-level swimmers I could see the benefits that role models bring to a club. Upon moving to Surrey Park Swim Club in 2018 I continued my elite swimming level, competing in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and adopted a mentoring role to many of the younger athletes.
I am now one of the more senior members of Surrey Park, I have taken on the role model persona that I once looked up to. I have been a part of two team trips to Tasmania for competition and two camps at Geelong. These trips incorporated a combination of age groups with myself being one of the senior swimmers. I took the initiative to be a leader and was able to share my swimming journey.
During the multiple lockdowns, I utilised my leadership skills to initiate virtual catch-ups for the young swimmers to feel connected. As face-to-face was not an option, I organised zoom meetings with games and trivia, as well as movie nights. It was important to me to be a role model for others, keep up communication and create a welcoming team environment even though we couldn’t see each other in person. I was really able to demonstrate and draw upon the skills I have learnt as a leader during this challenging time.
I am also a member of the Surrey Park social committee where I work with the other members to organise events on behalf of the club. We took charge of organising the annual Surrey Park awards night where the entire club is invited to celebrate the swimming season. In 2020, I initiated the club's involvement in a fundraiser called Laps for Life. The event goes for the month of March where you swim and track how many laps you do to raise money for the charity Reach Out, supporting young people struggling with mental health. Individually I was able to raise $1,131.60 which contributed to the club's total of $2,225.00. In 2021, I initiated the involvement again, individually raising $820.64 which contributed to the club's total of $8,223.95. We also raised a phenomenal amount of money again in 2022 and I was able to apply my leadership skills to rally more individuals to take part. I feel so honoured to be a part of such an important fundraising event and contribute to a very important cause about which I am deeply passionate.
In 2022 I was able to create and implement a team bonding activity that is continuing to grow and evolve. It’s a series of challenges each worth its own point value. The squad is broken into teams, each completing the challenges from the list to ultimately be crowned the champions of the month. The positive feedback I have received from my fellow teammates has been overwhelming. I am able to reflect with confidence in being a leader that is able to bring people together and work collaboratively to achieve a common goal. I am proud that my previous experience has enabled me to not only create something myself, but it is an astounding success.
Team Member Feedback
During the many lockdowns which we have had Renee has helped us to stay connected with each other through organising Netflix party’s with us and communicating with us most days. Renee’s leadership has helped us to stay together and look after each other throughout a difficult time. She has demonstrated leadership skills not only during this time but also every day at swimming.
Ella Will
Renee is a very inspirational person that has great leadership skills. During lockdown, Renee would organise Netflix parties which were great to have on a Saturday afternoon as a break from the stress of school and everything. She’s also an amazing friend always checking up on you and your mental health, making sure you’re doing ok. She always has the best advice and is always there if you need anything. Renee has done a great job of keeping everyone connected through the many lockdowns that we have been through and all the uncertainty. She is a great role model to me and my friends constantly showing leadership, integrity, respect, resilience, and kindness.
Thank you for everything Renee
Riley Cardow
From the very first time I met Renee, I instantly felt comfortable with her. She was the only older girl going on this swimming camp for our swim club prior to the camp I was a bit worried and she said ‘don’t worry, I’ll be there’ and from then on I knew I could trust her. I’ve always been able to talk to her about any drama or personal problems and she never fails to give the best advice or even just help me to calm down. During last and this year’s lockdowns, Renee would organise some netflix parties with a group of swimmers which was always a nice way of staying connected and having a sense of togetherness when we couldn’t go out as a group; even now, as hard as the past few weeks have been for her, she has allowed me to confide in her and has found the energy to read and talk about my own personal problems even when she is going through her own. I am so grateful to have a friend like Renee, over the past year and a half she has really been the older sister I never had.
Greta Knaap
"Sport fosters many things that are good; teamwork and leadership"