SECUNDA – Ms Theresa Gray and her daughter, Ms Alisha Lumley, nearly spend more time in the water than on dry land.
They have both been swimming since the age of seven and this motivated them to open their own swim school, Aqua Antics, three years ago.
Ms Gray worked for Sasol as a personal assistant for 29 years before she traded the office for the swimming pool and became a swim instructor full-time.
“They offered packages at Sasol, I prayed about it as I saw this as a chance to upgrade my swimming pool and open my own school,” said Ms Gray.
Ms Lumley have been teaching people how to swim for the past 17 years.
She began her career as a swim instructor right after school and worked at different swimming schools in Secunda before joining her mother on a full-time basis.
“It was my heart’s desire for my daughter to swim with me,” said Ms Gray.
She was born in England, but her family moved to Zambia when she was seven-years-old.
She grew up in Zambia and Zimbabwe and swam nationally and internationally whilst living there.
Her father, a water polo player, taught her how to swim.
She gave swimming lessons while in Zimbabwe. Ms Gray moved to Secunda in 1982 and began working at Sasol.
Besides swimming, Ms Gray enjoys hiking.
Together with her husband, they hiked the famous Camino hiking trail in Europe earlier this year.
They hiked 385km on the Camino trail from France’s side and they want to embark on this journey again next year, but then they want to tackle it from Portugal.
Ms Gray trained in her swimming pool in preparation for the Camino trail.
“There is resistance in the pool and not as much pressure on your joints as walking outside,” said Ms Gray.
However, she hiked on dry land as well to prepare for the Camino hike.
Ms Lumley grew up in Secunda and became a teacher after she completed school.
Apart from teaching people how to swim, Ms Gray and Ms Lumley also offer water aerobics to adults.
There are also swimming classes for babies from six-months-old.
The babies must be accompanied by a parent.
From two years onwards, they can attend swimming lessons without parental supervision.
“We treat the children at our swimming school like our own and they often stay long after their lessons are finished,” said Ms Gray.
Some of her former swimmers often return to the school during the school holidays to help as instructors.
Ms Gray believes in giving back to the community as she organises and gets involved in two charity events annually.
Her swim school organised the Aquathon held at Lake Umuzi earlier this year.
The proceeds of the day was used for charity work around Secunda.
Ms Gray has been involved with Cansa’s Relay for Life event recently. She is currently part of a project where food is collected for people in need.
She has three children, of which two are living in other countries and three grandchildren.
