EMMA Hillier is the operations manager at Butler’s State Swim centre, which opened this month.
Having joined State Swim as a swimming teacher in February 2008, Ms Hillier mainly taught waterbabies and kindy programs before joining the management team.
She said one of her proudest moments was teaching a little boy several years ago.
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READ NOW“He was very difficult to teach, very strong willed, very nervous and scared, the moment I could actually get him swimming off his floaties was priceless,” she said.
“I remember his face and his mother’s ecstatic expression and the sense of accomplishment (he) had.”
Ms Hillier said a friend’s recommendation to try State Swim for her children first drew her to the organisation, initially just for their lessons.
“Then due to a back injury, I was forced into a career change from being a chef,” she said.
“Doing my rehab and physio in the pool and thinking this is the best place for me to be in the water so I went off and did my course and here I am now.”
Outside the pool, she also enjoys boxing and long runs.
The Butler facility opened in mid-November and is open Monday to Saturday, with plans to extend to seven days a week next year.
What: State Swim Butler
Where: 198 Landbeach Boulevard, Butler
Contact: butler@stateswim.com.au or 9562 7577
More: stateswim.com.au