Nicki Vinnicombe

Nicki Vinnicombe

What is your Bondi story?

“I arrived in Australia [from South Africa] at the end of 1987. I lived in a small unit behind The Bondi Garage, where the friends we made there introduced me to the Bondi Icebergs for beers. I had no idea how to swim, nor did I have any concept that the winter club and bar, at times, was male-only.

What a wild place Bondi was in 1988. There were many parties and good times. It was a melting pot that I settled into very quickly and started to learn about Australian culture and lifestyle. In the early ’90’s, one day a friend, Jeannie King, while I was waiting to get a schooner at the Icebergs bar, put her hand on my shoulder and insisted she thought it a good idea that instead of only drinking at the Bergs, I should pop down on Sunday and swim with the Bondi Diggers swimming club. I had never considered swimming and had to borrow a costume for my first swim. On that first attempt, I never made it to the 30m mark. But swimming became synonymous with fun. I became a founding member of the Bondi Mermaids Winter swimming club in 1992 and then became one of the first female swimmers to join the Icebergs once women were allowed to become members in 1995. I will forever be indebted to Jimmy Gillies, who seemed to be able to help me with my atrocious swim stroke and get me to where I can now swim across Bondi Bay.”

How do you spend the first hour of your day?

“Always a cup of tea and then take the 2 poodles for their morning walk. We explore many different spots, such as Waverley Cemetery, Cooper Park, Diamond Bay, Centennial Park and more.”

Is there one thing you would like people to know about you?

“Swimming has become one of my most loved activities. It has given me confidence and a new family to belong to in this wonderful country. The ‘Bergs’ is my Church.”