Why this 71-year-old learned to swim

AFTER nearly drowning in a country drop-canal when she was 7, Jeanette Savage has finally learned to swim. But what’s it like learning something new at her age?

Jeanette with her husband John and son Miles.

AFTER nearly drowning in a country drop-canal when she was young, 71-year-old Jeanette Savage has avoided the water more than most.

“When I was growing up, there were no swimming pools, either private or public in our country town. It was the mighty Murray, canals or channels,” Mrs Savage explains.

“I almost drowned in a country drop-canal when I was about 7-years-old. My older siblings who were supposed to be taking care of me swore me to secrecy. They needn’t have worried — I was too humiliated to tell anyone!

“Sometime in high school, about 1956, swimming lessons were introduced. But we didn’t have the luxury of a chlorinated lap pool back then, just a muddy shallow channel. Strangely, I can’t remember anyone actually showing us how to swim. We were taught how to hold someone above water to avoid drowning.

“What I do remember clearly is the bags of salt and bottles of vinegar that lay on the banks to help with the leeches, as the teachers threw bricks into the water, which we were supposed to duck-dive to retrieve. As you can imagine, a muddy river laden with leaches was not conducive to getting over my fear of swimming,” she added.

Since leaving school, Mrs Savage has thought about swimming “many times”, particularly since marrying a man 43 years ago who swims daily. So what was it that stopped her from actually taking the plunge?

“There was a big part of me that felt embarrassed about the fact that I couldn’t swim,” she said.

“I’ve never really been afraid of water, it’s putting my head under water that frightened me. I was never able to control my breathing properly and I would panic if I couldn’t touch or see the bottom.”

Jeanette, surveying the situation.

But all that changed a few weeks ago, when the St George Bank organised for her to have a swimming lesson with Libby Trickett, as part of their 75th birthday celebrations.

“I’d thought about it for many years and I knew that learning how to swim had become a goal I allowed to slip off my radar. As with many people, sometimes we need a little nudge to break through fear.

“I felt surprisingly, calm, confident and safe — but this might have had something to do with the fact that I was in the very capable hands of Libby Trickett.

“Libby and I had a good laugh when I came out of the change rooms all kitted out with my swimming cap and goggles on. She turned to me and said, ‘All gear and no idea.’ But she was thrilled when I showed her that I could float on my back; turns out you’re halfway there if you’re a floater,” Mrs Savage said.

And she’s off!

But was her swimming lesson a one-off, or is it something she’s planning on sticking with?

“Being aware of the enjoyment my husband and son get from swimming always made me want to be able to experience that too. I have been able to go along and join my husband and son at our local swimming pool, and I’ll soon be starting my stroke correction lessons — yippee!

“My stamina is slowly improving and my love of swimming is growing each day. Look out Libby.”

Look out indeed!

To celebrate its 75th birthday, St.George set out to uncover the key milestones, priorities, un-achieved goals and advice of other 70-plus Australians. One of their findings was that 48 per cent of our over 70 population are yet to achieve their goals or passions. Jeanette was one of these people.