Rozanne Green

Rozanne Green

You couldn’t miss Rozanne in her Bondi Wombat swim club hi-viz last Thursday. (Club motto: “Trying not to drown since 2020”! ) She was waiting to see if anyone else in her swim group was going to turn up for the unscheduled swim. The conditions that day were not very enticing.

For someone who only learned to swim at the age of 40 Rozanne has a surprising story. For one she’s been a learn to swim teacher for the last eleven years for babies, adults (even 80 year olds) and the neurodiverse.

What is your Bondi story? 

“It’s been 44 years of loving Bondi since immigrating from South Africa. My boyfriend at the time had family here and he didn’t want to serve in the army. It was the apartheid era and military service was compulsory. We migrated without having even visited. My mum made me marry him and we were together for 20 years and have 2 beautiful children together, a son and daughter. I thank him regularly for the move. I love living near the ocean.
Even though I only learned to swim at 40, I now teach and compete. I compete with Bondi Surfclub in the Masters comp. And I was just in Queensland for Aussies [Ed. The Aussies Ocean Swim]. No medals but in State I got 3 bronze medals in my age group 65-69.
After the Aussies I went to Melbourne for The Masters Swimming Australia National Championships getting a bronze medal in my age group for 200m breaststroke. [Ed. anyone else feeling as exhausted as us?]
I run Bondi Surflifesaving Silver Salties Walk and Talk group from Bondi Surfclub weekly on a Wednesday starting 9:30am rain, hail or shine. I started it 5 years ago during COVID, the first NSW Silver Salties. Feel free to join us, special people. Beyond walking, our sessions have included dance, meditation, laughter, and meaningful connection. Anyone interested email  silversalties@bondisurfclub.com”.

How do you spend the first hour of your day?

“I wake up at 5am, have a coffee, do the Wordle, check emails and socials. I go for a paddle surfski at Rose Bay or swim at Redfern before teaching swimming”. 

Is there one thing you’d like people to know about you?

“Life’s too short. It’s not a dress rehearsal. I love my family - 2 children, 2 grandkids (girl 2.5 and a boy, only 3 weeks old today), and in-laws.
Enjoy every moment as everyone grows up too quickly.”