Our Exceptional Team
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Andrew Baildon Olympian B.Comm (Bus) Founder & Managing Director"After being rescued from the bottom of our backyard pool, by my sister Kate, my parents ensured I went to swimming lessons every single day until I could swim.
I just never stopped swimming and went on to enjoy a long and illustrious career in the sport I grew to love. My passion for swimming and a healthy lifestyle has lead me into the development of leisure centres incorporating Jetts Fitness 24/7 and Goldfish Cafés. I am very proud of what my wife Karen and I have achieved, along with our great team and the dedicated mums and dads that consistently bring their children into, what I consider, to be the best 'Learn to Swim' programs anywhere in the country. I look forward to meeting you on the pool deck." Andrew's Career Highlights:
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Karen Baildon Founder & Director Karen's father is legendary dual Olympic swimming gold medallist, multi-world record holder and nine-time Commonwealth Champion, Michael Wenden. Her mother Narelle is a top level junior squad swimming coach and expert adult 'Learn to Swim' teacher and coach, so Karen literally grew up in swimming complexes, with 'Learn to Swim' and swim coaching being their family business. Karen was a state level swimming champion, competing at this level in swimming for many years. Karen developed and opened Andrew Baildon Aquatic Centres in 1996. She co-wrote all the swim programs with partner Andrew and further developed and implemented lesson plans, schools lesson plans and teacher training programs for instructors as well as administration policies and procedures, and administration training programs. Karen maintains a very hands-on role in the business and is responsible for all sales and marketing, promotions and HR management. Exciting plans for expansion are underway and Karen works closely with Andrew on new business development, from the ground up, with extraordinary attention to detail, to ensure that Andrew Baildon's Superfish Swim Schools are truly world class facilities with industry leading programs and standards. "I have a particular passion for drowning prevention and infant swimming, and I continue to work closely with experts worldwide to ensure our swim schools provide premium, LIFE SAVING, 'Learn to Swim' programs." |
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Susie Administration Coordinator Susie's first introduction to the Andrew Baildon’s Superfish Swim Schools was 14 years ago when her two children commenced started 'Learn to Swim' classes at Andrew’s first teaching facility on Ferry Road. Susie’s interest in the learn to swim industry developed and she started as a 'Learn to Swim' teacher in 1998. With 22 years of administration experience, in 2001 she was promoted to Nerang Centre Supervisor, then in 2003 she became Administration Co-ordinator at Superfish Swim Schools head office, now incorporating accounts administration for Andrew Baildon's Superfish Leisure. "What I love most about the swimming industry, is the development of children and the teaching of a life saving skill to toddlers." |
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Brienna Pacific Pines Centre Manager & Schools Swimming Coordinator Brienna joined us as a 'Learn to Swim' teacher in 2002 and has worked her way up to Senior Supervisor. Brienna grew up in the swimming world with her family running council pools for over 25 years. She was a state level swimmer and has taught 'Learn to Swim' programs since she was 16 years of age. Brienna’s role include overseeing the day-to-day operations of Andrew Baildon’s SUPERFFISH Swim Schools, Goldfish Cafe and Jetts Fitness 24/7, and coordinating the School Swimming Programs throughout the year. "I love seeing children enjoy the water, gaining confidence and excel; and when a child does an activity by themselves for the first time, especially floating. It is also rewarding when parents tell of how our swimming lessons have saved their child's life." |
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Kerrie Sunnybank Centre Manager Kerrie has been with us since 2004 and comes from an extensive swimming background with over 20 years experience in the swimming industry. She started teaching at age 15 in NSW and has taught in Canberra, where she wrote her own programs. She is passionate about 'Learn to Swim' and the importance of all children having a high degree of water safety. Kerrie has a wealth of knowledge and practical experience and oversees the day-to-day running of the swim school, customer service, staff training, teaching and building a great team environment. "To teach is to touch a life forever. The highest compliment I can have is when a child tells me they had so much fun in my swimming class!" |
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Judie Pool Supervisor Originally from Sydney, Judie joined us in 2007 having taught in NSW and locally at St Hilda's School. Judie teaches all levels from Dippas through to Nippas and oversees our high standards of pool water quality and filtration. "I love watching how kids progress - from really scared, to swimming by themselves. I know that this is another child I have helped become water safe. My greatest moment as a swim teacher was when I got a postcard from a family on holiday in Dunk Island and all it said was 'thank you, you saved Mia's life!' Mia had got away from the baby sitter and was found walking through the restaurant fully clothed and wet. They watched her on CCTV cameras and saw that she had fallen in the pool, turned around and caught the wall then climbed out - something she had not done before, by herself." |
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Belinda Jetts Fitness 24/7 Manager Belinda grew up in the UK where she attained her BA in Sports Studies and managed 3 health clubs in unison before fulfilling a dream to go travelling. She reached Australia in 1993 and never went back. Prior to becoming our Jetts Fitness 24/7 Manager, Belinda was a personal trainer and started out as our client, with 6 of her 8 children enrolled in the SUPERFISH Learn To Swim program. Belinda competed at representative junior level in gymnastics, athletics and hockey and was a nationally ranked junior in the long jump, in the UK. She recently completed the Kokoda Challenge for the 2nd year and is now aiming towards ultra-marathon racing. Qualifications include BA Sports Studies; Fitness Australia Registered Level 2; Certificate III Gym Instructor and Group Exercise; Certificate IV Personal Trainer, First Aid/Blue Card; Certified Boxing Trainer; Advanced Nutrition Certificate. |
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Nicola Cafe Supervisor [& Coffee Queen!] Nicola brings 11 years of hospitality industry experience to her role and has a "Food Safety and Hygiene" Licence. She prides herself on providing the highest possible standards of customer service. Nicola is also a qualified swimming instructor and has taught programs for babies through to the Stroke Correction Program. "I love seeing the kid’s faces light up when they visit me in the café for a special treat after a great swimming lesson. The Mum’s and Dad’s love it when I am baking fresh Banana Bread and the smell wafts through the centre!" |
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Jenny Pacific Pines Coach Jenny has been a swimming instructor and coach for 30 years, initially in Sydney and later at Somerset College and Bond Uni on the Gold Coast, before joining our team in 2002. Jenny is one of only 20 Queensland coaches to have been selected in the state development swim team. Jenny has 3 children and 3 grandchildren. "I love watching children do something in swimming that they didn't think was possible, such as at a carnival, seeing the look on their faces when they swim a great time. Watching them grow as a person - become disciplined as a person. The highlight for me is coaching swimmers to believe in themselves, and make state and nationals, especially watching a swimmer called Adrian make it to the state finals after just 3 months in squad training - 2 years earlier he couldn't even swim. He made it into the 100 and 200 mts breast stroke." |
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Natasha Sunnybank Coach "I am very pleased to be with the SUPERFISH team with Andrew and Karen! I started with the SUPERFISH team back in 1999 as a Learn to Swim Instructor and now hold the position of Sunnybank Squad Coach. The Australian Census say that only 4% of Australians like their jobs, so I have the wonderful privilege of having a job I love! The squad program at Sunnybank is developing into a fantastic squad and my swimmers are really doing well this season. Now having the SUPERFISH Swim Club for our Squad kids to be involved in, has been of huge benefit, with my kids now competing Friday night Club and in a lot of carnivals around the Gold Coast and Brisbane." |
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Lotta Administration & Customer Service Having swum competitively for nearly 17 years, Lotta brings her swimming background knowledge into teaching learning to swim, administration and customer service. With a young family, Lotta knows the importance of swimming development in children as a life skill, that needs to be taught to children ‘ASAP’. Lotta loves watching the progress that children make in the pool and getting to know parents in the centre. She enjoys working with the team at Sunnybank and is a terrific leader in our centre. "The most memorable experience for me so far was supporting a mother through her anxiety in beginning swimming lessons for her 3 and 4 year old children, after the unbearable accident of loosing her 5 year old in a drowning tragedy in their backyard pool. Such a sad time, but so rewarding watching her children have amazing progress in their swimming lessons." |
| Our Great Team Our teaching team are fully qualified and trained to the highest level. They are carefully selected, with our swim teaching team holding Austswim or Swim Australia Certificate, CPR and QLD Blue Card as minimum qualifications. Each instructor must complete Andrew Baildon’s Intensive In-House Training Programs and Workshops at the commencement of joining our team and continued biannually while instructing at SUPERFISH Swim Schools. |
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| Back Andrew, Nubia, Alanna, Nakye, Laura, Janine, Cheyenne, Lizzy, Nicola, Nigel; Middle – Alix, Trenna, Jenny, Sarah, Judie; Front Emily, rudy, Stacey; Absent – Kerrie, Ali, Debbie, Rommy, Kaitlan, Taylah | |
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| Top Row Glen, Kate, Lotta, Anne, Daisy, Ben Bottom Row Kerrie (Manager) Royce, Natasha, Cheyenne, Chantelle, Lizzie (Missing Raul) |
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