A Bundoora couple waited until their twilight years to discover the joy of swimming.
And it took a change of continent to get Shulan Qin, 61, and husband Wenzhi Zhang, 62, into the water. The couple moved from mainland China two years ago to be with family.
They study English as a second language at Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education, where English teacher Eleni Prineas asked Life Saving Victoria to sponsor swimming lessons at the Reservoir Leisure Centre when she discovered several students could not swim.
“The first time I swam, I am scared, not any more,” Mrs Qin said. “Floating feels like flying.” Mr Zhang, a former engineer, did not realise his new life would include swimming. “One day I want to swim in the sea,” he said.
