Advertising feature
Former competitive swimmer Chris Dellit knows first hand that all toddlers are capable of swimming.
Her own son Mark was able to swim laps of a pool independently at 13 months of age and she has always been aware that the right education not only shapes professional swimmers, but can save lives as well.
Chris is the founding director of Little Snappers Swim Schools, with a brand new state of the art facility opening in Yarrabilba recently - a joint effort with her son Mark Dalle Cort and his wife Mai.
With a 39 year swim school history, the family had built and opened the Robina Aquatic Centre in 1993, selling it in 2007 to establish facilities in Cairns.
Little Snappers now has locations in Townsville, Cairns and the latest in Yarrabilba, which the family moved back to the area to establish.
Chris had a vision after swimming competitively under Olympic coach Bill Sweetenham in the 1970s.
"I wanted to build indoor, heated, boutique aquatic education centres that specialised in small class sizes to ensure maximum progression for all ages and all stages from babies to squads and adults," she said.
With her support, former NRL player Mark and Mai established the first Little Snappers in 2011 focusing on affordable lessons provided by highly qualified teachers with a 'Love, Laugh, Swim' philosophy.
Over time, the business has won national awards for excellence in design, program, teacher training, marketing and teaching excellence as well as the 'Australian Swim Teacher of the year - For Learners with a Disability' won recently by a program licensee.
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The Yarrabilba facility is a state of the art modern building purpose built with a fully tiled training and teaching pool heated to 32 degrees, on deck warm showers, heated change rooms, a functional baby change area and private change cubicles all with non slip polysafe hydro flooring.
"For those parents who do not wish to sit poolside there is a dedicated parent viewing area and play area for siblings to relax while the kids have their lessons," Chris said.
To help combat the high Australian drowning rates, the swim school offers year round lessons so skills are retained and kids are ready for summer when many family activities are based around water.
Focusing on children being safer sooner, the school has developed programs and packages to suit all budgets.
"Our families are our priority and we will go above and beyond to ensure that all achieve to the best of their ability."
Former coach, local resident and swimming world hall of fame inductee Bill Sweetenham officially open the new school.