A PENINSULA Aquatic Recreation Centre teacher has been named the country’s best at a national awards night. Shannon Gardner was named the “swim teacher of the year” at the 2024 Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Awards last week. The PARC employee said that winning the award was a “dream come true”.
“It’s a surreal feeling and achievement – one that I would not have reached without the support of my colleagues, and my past and present students and their families. I love being a swim teacher and helping develop such important life skills that go beyond what is taught in the pool,” Gardner said. “This award is a testament to the hard work and passion we all put into our PARC swimming program and living our vision that every child in Frankston can swim.”
Peninsula Leisure also won the Community Impact Initiative of the Year Award at last week’s event. Peninsula Leisure CEO Kath Thom said “these awards reflect our commitment to making a positive impact in our community.” “We are incredibly proud of Shannon and our entire team for their dedication and innovative approaches. This recognition inspires us to continue our mission of providing accessible and inclusive programs for all people in Frankston to be active and safer around water,” she said.