West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 9 January 1952, page 3


SWIMMING TEACHERS CONTINUE WORK All teachers yesterday continued to -instruct at vacation swimming classes for schoolchildren despite the threat from the W.A. Amateur Swimming Association that they would lose their amateur status.

Four of the 60 teachers involved approached the supervisor of the classes (Mr. R. M. V. Elliott) with requests to withdraw. However, they agreed to continue when Mr. Elliott pointed out that they would not be professionals until they had accepted payment from the Education Department.Rolf Rolf Harris, a State amateur swimming champion who was teaching at vacation classes, said yesterday that he had spoken to many instructors during the day and all had regarded the position as ridiculous. The instructors, most of whom were graduates from Teachers' Training College, were teaching children to save their own lives, not to win swimming races. Ruling's Origin The question had its origin in Queensland where Jeanette Holly, a well-known swimmer, had taken a position as swimming coach with a school, Mr. Harris said. She had sought clarification of her position from the Olympic and international swimming control body (F.I.N.A.) in Paris. They ruled that if she accepted payment she would be a professional. Harris added that he would defend his State amateur freestyle and backstroke titles at Crawley Baths tonight. The secretary of the W.A. Amateur Swimming Association (Mr. G. Yewers) said last night that Harris would be allowed to swim in the championships tonight if, before competing, he gave an undertaking that he would not accept any money as a teacher of swimming. Asked what his association's attitude was towards swimmers who had received payment as teachers in past years, he said that what had been done in complete ignorance probably would be overlooked. Suggested Move Any person, however, who received money despite the warning through the Education Department would have to be dealt with. "I regret that this position has arisen," Mr. Yewers said, "but my association is bound to follow the directions of the controlling body."If If the Education Department were to protest officially, he said, the swimming board of control probably would consider the possibility of recommending to the Australian union that such teachers of swimming be granted exemption. When informed of the association's attitude, the Supervisor of Physical Education (Mr. R. E. Halliday) said that, before the finish of the classes, he would ask for exemption for the teachers who were helping the department in the normal course of their duties. (Other Sports, Page 9.)