1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: A number of wonderful territorians have been recognized on Australia Day, 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: recognized on the Australian Honors List, also recognized by our 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: different councils across the Northern Territory. And I've got to 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: tell you I was very pleased to see that friend 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: of this show, Donna Rusham, has been named as the 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: Citizen of the Year for Darwin. She joins me on 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: the line. 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: Good morning, Donna, Good morning Katie Curtly. Can I just 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: extend my congratulations to all the other nominees finalist News Citizens. 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: I'd like to say thank you to the Australia Day 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: Council and the Darwin City Council. It was a wonderful 12 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: reception at the Hilton and I'm still shaking. 13 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: I beg you are, Donna. You've been recognized for your 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: the work that you've done in the field of inclusive 15 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: of swimming. We formed the Starfish Swim Group back in 16 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: two thousand and five. You've been on this show before 17 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 1: talking about this wonderful, wonderful group that you formed. Now 18 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: for those out there listening who don't know why you 19 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: initially formed this group, just remind them. 20 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: Okay, back in those days two thousand and five, there 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: was nothing Tarni was swimming that most people know of 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: my daughter Tarni. We'd gone through the trials and tribulations 23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: of getting her into a club and swimming, and you know, 24 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: because she had the potential, we were wanting to move forward. 25 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: I had other parents, young parents coming to me and saying, oh, 26 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: you're so lucky You've got Tarni in swimming, and I'm going, well, no, 27 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: it's been a battle, but what's the problem. And it's like, 28 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: there's nothing for our kids. They cannot fit into a 29 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: mainstream group and there's just nothing out there. So I 30 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: hot footed it around different organizations, swimming education, everywhere to 31 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: see install was something that I was missing, and no, 32 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: there wasn't. There was just no opportunities for these kids. 33 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: And I thought, well, you know, something has to be done. 34 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: You can't just sit back and let somebody else do it. 35 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 2: I felt that I was starting to become known through 36 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 2: Tarny and I thought, Donna just do it. But the 37 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: funny part, and you will know this, is that I 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: don't swim. I'm not a swim teacher. Okay. So it 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 2: was like, oh my god, I have no idea where 40 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: to start. I'm not a swims teacher. I don't swim, 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: I can't swim, and I hate the water. Why would 42 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 2: I started? Why would I start a swim group with 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: kids with disabilities when I have no idea how to 44 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 2: do it. So we started with ten kids and as 45 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: it was, I think it was in the commented in 46 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 2: the paper yesterday, we went from ten in the group 47 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: with the parents in the water, and I thought, no, 48 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: they're having fun going to learn to swim. This was 49 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: over in the Caserina in the pool, the old Casina pool. 50 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 2: And then I was just like, okay, good person to 51 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: sit and watch and observe and go okay, what just 52 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 2: monitoring what's wrong? And it's like no, it's can't do ten. 53 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: We go to five, We went to five to three, 54 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 2: three in the water with a teacher, down to two, 55 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: down to and it just got to two and I 56 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: just kept watching and going, no, we can do this better. 57 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: We've got to go to one on one. One on 58 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: one's the key, and that is why to me, that's 59 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: why we have the success we do, and it's the 60 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 2: key factor in what we do today. To just have 61 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: that child with the disability with the teacher. So this 62 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: is the two of them building the relationship and it's 63 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: a nice quiet area and I honestly put the success 64 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: down to that, and Donna. 65 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: It is. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing that you created. Look, 66 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: I will just say I think a lot of people 67 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: listening are gonna have a laugh thinking here's a mum 68 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: with a daughter who's a world champion swimmer who doesn't 69 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: swim herself. 70 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: None of the parents have seen me in the water yet, 71 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: and it's like they're probably not likely to. But another 72 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: funny thing is, oh, some years ago, maybe fifteen years ago, 73 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: Tarney went and did the shopping for Christmas and she 74 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 2: was so excited and couldn't wait for me to open 75 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: my present. And when I opened it, it was a 76 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: swim ring and a pair of floating you know, the 77 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: blow up. 78 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: She's got a good sense of humor, your daughter, no 79 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: doubt about that. 80 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: Donna. 81 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: Tell me, how did you feel when your name was 82 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: read out and you learned that you were the Citizen 83 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: of the Year. 84 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: Actually quite shocked, which I'm still coming to terms with, Katie. 85 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: You know me, I'm just an everyday person. I go 86 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 2: about my business. I don't look for appolades. My motto 87 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: is I love what I do, and I do what 88 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 2: I love. And I'm very proud of what I've in 89 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: my own heart, of what we've achieved. I mean, I 90 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: get great satisfaction from the parents' there's, you know, the 91 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: connection that I've made with the parents. It's not only 92 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: a swim group, you know, it's I advocate for the 93 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: parents and so forth. So there's a lot of closeness 94 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: within our swim group other than just the swimming sort 95 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: of things. No, I just went along, you know. When 96 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: I actually when the city, the lady of the City 97 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 2: council first rang me, I was very sick. This was 98 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: back in December. I had this silly RSV that was 99 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: going around and I was sick as a dog. And 100 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 2: she said, oh, the city Council. You've been nominated and 101 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: I went what And she said, you're a finalist and 102 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 2: I said, oh, you've got to be junking. And like 103 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: I said, with the with the oim Jenny, I forgot. 104 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 2: So I was only hoping I was going to be 105 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: well for the last Monday. And anyway, I'm better now. 106 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 2: And as I said, when my name, I just sat there. 107 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: I was done. It was like everybody's doing wonderful things, 108 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 2: and it's like, why was I picked out? Why was I? 109 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 2: But I can't believe if anyone's following faithbook, there's over 110 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: five hundred whatever you do things. Yeah, yeah, well there's 111 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: about two hundred or three hundred comments, but you just 112 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 2: press it that you like the thing that was the 113 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: photo of Tarmi and I and people just pressed like 114 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: or whatever. It's over five hundred in there, and it's like, 115 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: these are people I haven't Maddie who was. 116 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: It going, Maddie Heppy who used to work with us, Yeah. 117 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: And I'm like, oh, this is so lovely. 118 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: It is lovely, But Donna, I'm not surprised by it 119 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: because the work that you've done and the work that 120 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: happens with the Staffish Swim Group. For every family that's 121 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,119 Speaker 1: been able to take their their child along to learn 122 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: to swim, to do those one on one classes, that's 123 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: a huge thing for every single one of those families. 124 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: So when you look at the number of families that 125 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: you've made swimming accessible to, you should be so so 126 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: proud of yourself. 127 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: Yeah I do. Look, I get I just get comfort 128 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 2: in what I'm doing as I said, I just do 129 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: it on a daily basis. I does need to have 130 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: pat on the max to me to see a kid 131 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 2: in the water or to see the achievements, to see 132 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: the progress they're making. That's all I need. That's all 133 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: I need on a daily basis to know that I'm 134 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: doing You know, we are doing the right thing. I know. 135 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: One mum, the first mum that I actually that sowed 136 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: the seed with me to do something. And her son 137 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: probably never would learn to do formal swimming, but when 138 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 2: he started with us, the main thing was to make 139 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: him safe. They had a pool in their yard and 140 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: she said, Donna, he's not safe. I have to sit 141 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: there and be with him and watch him the whole time. 142 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: And when he by the time he left our program, 143 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: she said, Donna, I can look out my kitchen window. 144 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: He's a much bigger boy. Now I look at my 145 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: kitchen window. He's loving the water. He swims in his 146 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: own way. And that was you know, we we had 147 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: done for him what he needed. And that's you know, 148 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: these little comments that come back are just just amazing. 149 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: So yeah, good progress. 150 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: He really is well. Donna, A massive massive congress relations 151 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: to you. Thank you very much. For joining us on 152 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: the show this morning, and no doubt we'll talk to 153 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: you again very soon. 154 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Katie and listen, thank you.