Colleen Pettiford
NSW breast stroke
champion
“We were all
terribly determined and it was all quite adventurous”
Colleen Pettiford (born 1943) began swimming
with the Parramatta Amateur City Swimming Club in 1956, when she was 12. In the
1957/58 season Colleen was the State champion in the Under 14 years 110 yards
breast stroke, and also placed in the Junior and Open 110 yards breast stroke.
The same year, she represented NSW at the Australian championships in Canberra.
In 1958/59 Colleen was placed third in the State championships in both the
Junior and Open 110 yards titles.
Colleen trained at Granville Pool every
morning and afternoon. Under amateur coach Bruce McDonald, Colleen participated
in gruelling winter training sessions at White Bay power station, alongside
fellow swimmers Rob Griffiths, Julian Carroll, Susan Costin and Nick Whitlam.
The Parramatta City Swimming Club record for girls (16 years) 50 metres
freestyle set by Colleen Pettiford in 1958/59, was still unbroken in 2005.
Colleen became a qualified first-class
instructor for the Learn to Swim program at Granville pool. She was also a
qualified life saving award instructor and examiner, teaching and examining
schools at the pool. When she stopped swimming in about 1960, Colleen Pettiford
continued to coach and teach Parramatta City Club swimmers for many years.
Images
1. Colleen Pettiford aged 13, wearing her
NSW swim team blazer and medal
2. Colleen Pettiford, about 1956
4. Colleen being presented with a trophy at
a Parramatta City Amateur Swimming Club awards night. Left to right: Rob
Griffiths, Julian Carroll, Colleen Pettiford, Mayor John Morgan and his wife
5. Colleen being presented with a shield,
about 1958
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