Kylie Lehman, front, has responded to the drowning of her brother-in-law by opening up Big Fish Little Fish Swim School with business partner Paula Olsson, back right. Youngsters Brody Harris, Luke Mounter and Erin Bahlmann are three of the many people learning how to swim at the Narre Warren centre. 20473 By Callan Date
KYLIE Lehman’s life was turned upside down when her brother-in-law, Justin Lehman, drowned at a Perth beach in 2000.
Struggling to deal with the grief, Ms Lehman soon decided his death would not be in vain.
Eight years on she has opened up a swim school in her home town of Narre Warren and written a book about water education for children. The decision to focus her working life on helping others learn how to swim was made shortly after Justin’s death.
Mr Lehman, 22, was on holiday when he became caught in a rip while swimming at Cottesloe beach.
“The reason I do what I do is because of his drowning,” Ms Lehman said. “My family went to the beach quite a lot, but we stopped going after Justin died.
“We thought we were fully equipped with the skills to swim safely but we weren’t.”
The 34-year-old quit her job as a banker and began the journey which culminated in the recent opening of Big Fish Little Fish Swim School.
“I started dreaming about doing this and it was our goal to open up a school,” she said.
Ms Lehman began by gaining her AUSTSWIM teaching accreditation. She was soon teaching water safety at Casey ARC and running and implementing swimming education programs at the centre.
Then came the 2005 publication of Shelly the Shrimp and her AquaSafe Friends – a children’s book written with two aims in mind.
“The book is about children’s water safety and also has a blurb about Justin,” Ms Lehman said. “The money from sales of the book go towards helping provide aquatic education classes for those they are unable to afford it.”
The mother of three said the swim school, which she owns with business partner Paula Olsson, had been doing well in its first two months.
“We are doing exceptionally well – our name in the area has meant a lot of our older students have come across to be part of the program,” Ms Lehman said.
Big Fish Little Fish Swim School classes are held at Rebound Leisure Club, 5 Rebound Court, Narre Warren.
For more information visit www.bflf.com.au.
