By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SWIM teacher of 20 years Tania Molloy from Casey Race recreation and aquatic centre has won the AUSTSWIM Infant Teacher of the Year award.
Aquatic director at Casey Race, Cindy Smith, nominated Ms Molloy for the award and said she could always be seen at the swim centre with a huge infectious smile on her face.
“Tania is an inspiration not only to her students but to parents and staff,” Ms Smith said. Narre Warren resident Ms Molloy said the award was a big shock.
“I wasn’t expecting to win at all.”
“I love teaching the babies, they’re so cute and innocent, and it’s a big learning curve to learn to swim and be able to save your own life,” Ms Molloy said.
Growing up on the beach, Ms Molloy has been a surf life saver since she was 12 years old and still holds a world record.
“I started at the Chelsea Longbeach Surf Life Saving Club and participated in the national and world titles. I still hold the under 16 line throw rescues and came 15th in the world ski race,” Ms Molloy said.
Having taught infants for the past 20 years, Ms Molloy said swimming was a very important life skill.
“There are so many things I love about teaching, it’s fun and it’s teaching them something that they can use for the rest of their life,” she said.
Ms Molloy has taught at Casey Race since it opened six years ago and takes 26 infant and preschool classes each week.
“I just finished teaching some school-aged children who I taught when they were babies and now again at 12 years old- they still remember me and I love that,” she said.
Ms Smith said Ms Molloy was a highly sought-after teacher and a credit to Casey Race.
“Most of her classes run at above 90 per cent capacity, she plans her lessons for the whole term in advance with professionally presented laminated lesson plans and goes out of her way to bring her own toys to stimulate her students,” Ms Smith said.
