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Belgravia Leisure Area Manager Craig Tobin has been honoured as a Westfield Local Hero in the Brisbane suburb of Carindale for his contribution to swimming for people with an intellectual disability.

The former national swimming coach was honoured at a special awards ceremony in Queensland on 1st October. For winning, Tobin picked up $10,000 which he will use to provide more swimming opportunities for swimmers through the Redlands Club of Special Olympics Australia.

Tobin has been involved in swimming for more than 40 years, including 23 years as a coach and aquatics and leisure centre manager, and 15 years in charge of Special Olympic and Down syndrome swimming squads.

Explaining his commitment, he states “the award brings recognition to the program and an increase awareness within the community we operate in.

“It brings athletes with a disability more into the mainstream. The more we can showcase the achievements of these athletes to the wider community the more acceptance we get. I have had several people from overseas contact me for specific advice on how to implement a similar program, something I’m also happy to assist with.”

With the award also recognising Belgravia Leisure’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Tobin added “from a Belgravia perspective it shows my staff, contract partners and the community that at all levels of the business we are enacting the CLEAR values.

“We are actually connecting all communities to leisure, they are not just slogans. Many staff were unaware of the voluntary work that I do in this space.

“So I have been asked to mentor many staff with specialty areas within the area of disability swimming. I believe it has added another layer of respect within what we are trying to achieve in inclusion within the Moreton Bay Region.”

With such a vast amount of experience, Tobin’s three takeaways curated over a lifetime of teaching swimming are:

Lesson 1: We can all learn new skills no matter how long it takes us, lifelong learning is the key to success
Lesson 2: Work with the ability that you have be given
Lesson 3: As a coach, teacher or mentor we must be aware of how every training session has a different affect on the persons life.

Belgravia Leisure Chief Executive Nick Cox congratulated Tobin on his award, and his contribution to swimming, stating “Craig demonstrates the leadership and commitment we need to ensure disadvantaged and disabled people are given greater access to our centres and the important life skills swimming provides.

“We are very proud of him and his continuing success, and the number of people who benefit directly from his hard work and commitment. He’s an inspiration to many people at Belgravia Leisure, he inspires many others through his work and this award is much deserved.”

Image: Craig Tobin, courtesy of Belgravia Leisure.

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