Bree Johnstone of Superfish Swim Schools Benowa voted Gold Coast’s best swim school teacher in reader poll

There was a fierce face-off in our reader poll, but we can now announce the Gold Coast’s top 10 swim school teachers and the overall winner.

SUPERFISH Swim Schools Benowa’s Bree Johnstone has been chosen as the Gold Coast’s best swim teacher in a hotly contested reader poll.

The Bulletin took to Facebook asking for readers to name the city’s best swim teacher. We were swamped with nominations as users praised instructors across the Coast.

Superfish Swim Schools Benowa swim teacher and senior mentor Bree Johnstone in the pool with her son Nate, aged three. Picture: Supplied

Runaway Bay resident Ms Johnstone, 26, let out a cheer when the Bulletin told her she had taken out top spot.

“Oh my God, are you kidding me? That’s amazing” she said.

“I’m so happy, I can’t believe it. I’m sitting in the (pool) office bright red at the moment.”

The senior mentor has been working as a swim teacher since 2012 and employed at Superfish Benowa for six years.

It all started when she was working on the front desk of a pool in Tasmania.

“I was watching people in the pool and I went ‘this is what I actually want to do’.

“I did my qualifications and training and never looked back.

Superfish Swim Schools Benowa swim teacher and senior mentor Bree Johnstone. Picture: Supplies

“It’s brilliant, it’s the best job. I don’t think I’ll have another job ever.”

Ms Johnstone said she teaches about 24 children’s classes each week, but also instructs the occasional adult.

“I love teaching infants. Seeing their progression is so great,” she said.

“You really get down on the kids’ level and get them doing things in the pool their parents can’t get them to do, or people don’t think they can get them to do.

“Every child is different and you’ve just got to learn what they’re all about. Some kids are sensitive, some thrive on lots of energy – you’ve just got to judge the situation.”

Ms Johnstone said it was challenging to instruct children “who’ve been through a traumatic event” or had a bad experience around the pool previously.

Senior mentor Bree Johnstone in the pool. Picture: Supplied

“They’ll get over their fears in time, you’ve just got to work to get rid of the negativity,” she said.

Nominations for Ms Johnstone praised her flexible and personalised approach.

She made special mention of her “awesome” colleagues at Superfish, including fellow nominees Cassie Small, Tayla Wilkinson, Shauna-Lee Bain, Kerryn Harber, Anne Maree Halkett, Alexandra Smiroldo and Kim Provis.