The Big Swim - Day 5 - Sunday 20th March 2011

Sunday 20^th March was a beautiful day. With blue skies, plenty of sunshine and flat water Westernport Bay looked beautiful.  Mandy started her swim at 10am from Rhyll Inlet and we all estimated she would finish at 2.30pm on Sunday. It turns out the tide was seriously in Mandy’s favour and she was swimming too fast, so she had to slow it down so as not to get to San Remo too early.

I was with a number of other people on the Kasey Lee following Mandy as she swam underneath the bridge. With the 80’s and 90’s blasting from the now familiar Swim for Life boat and Mandy powering towards the finish line the atmosphere could not have been better. It was around this time that the Channel 7 helicopter showed up to get some footage for the news that night.

As Mandy passed the finish line at San Remo all of her supporters were clapping, beaming and yelling. The amount of support that locals and people from all over Victoria have given Mandy has been fantastic.

After jumping out of the cage, giving medals to all of the volunteers who had helped her along the way Mandy gave interviews to the TV crews and people from the local paper.

After all was said and done Mandy went home and returned to normal life preparing for university on Tuesday and nationals in a few weeks. She is the same as each of us with our day-to-day routines and challenges. The difference is that Mandy chose to make a difference. She completed an amazing feat on Sunday and became a local hero.

So please do what you can to support Swim for Life and help Phillip Island get a 24 hour medical clinic.

The Big Swim - Day 4 - Saturday 19th March 2011

On Saturday morning Mandy and her support crew had an early start from Grossard Point.  The pressure was on the reach Cowes where numerous supporters were waiting to greet Mandy on the jetty.  The number of people who came out to applaud Mandy and donate to Swim for Life was fantastic. Once at the pier Mandy departed with the Turtle Smugglers (the local swimming group) heading eastwards towards Rhyll. They set a cracking pace but nothing compared to the pace that Mandy had maintained over the three previous days.

From Cowes Mandy continued to swim towards San Remo pier. Local MP Greg Hunt showed up and swam along with Mandy for 25 minutes. From there she continued for a few more hours until reaching Rhyll inlet where she was swimming against the tide. Seeing first hand the huge impact of the tide. When it was in her favour Mandy swam up to 10km/hr but when she was swimming against the tide she slowed to 1km/hr. On Saturday Mandy swam over 15km leaving 13km for her finish on Sunday.

Congratulations Mandy! You made it!!!

Thank you for everyone who came out to San Remo Pier today to see Mandy complete her swim! It was great to see so much support!

Blog and pics from the weekend to come!

Come and congratulate Mandy personally around 2.30pm tomorrow at San Remo pier

The Big Swim - Day 3 - Friday 18th March 2011

Mandy had another great day in the water. The sun didn’t manage to get out but she swam over 15km. She started back at Cape Woolamai (where she finished on Day 1) and swam along Woolamai Beach past Smiths Beach and Pyramid Rock to her finish point from Day 2.  It was a slow start in the morning but by the arvo things were looking up.

She swam at an average speed of 3.5 – 4 km per hour with the tide.  Some curious dolphins and seals came to see who was swimming in their waters around Pyramid Rock.

Tomorrow it will be another early start leaving from Grossard Point. From there Mandy will swim towards Cowes where she has invited anyone and everyone to come and swim a leg of the race for a $20 donation to Swim for Life. If you are keen come down to Cowes Main Beach at 11am on Saturday.  

Olympus will donate $1 for every person who "likes" this YouTube video

Swim alongside Mandy at Cowes Tomorrow

For anyone who is going to be around Phillip Island tomorrow come and have a swim with Mandy as she swims past the pier. Donations of $20 per swimmer.

Hope to see you there!

For all those on twitter!

If you have a twitter account and want to donate to Swim for Life  go to this link and retweet the comment below. For every retweet Olympus will donate another dollar towards Swim for Life

http://twitter.com/olympus_au

Olympus pledges $50 per km ($3250) plus $1 for every RT of this message (to $2000) to Swim for Life http://bit.ly/gavTyo

The Big Swim - Day 2 - Thursday 17th March 2011

Mandy swam a massive 15km today and passed through one of the major checkpoints at The Nobbies.  A few curious seals came to check her out but otherwise it was smooth sailing.  She started at Grossard Point and swam anti-clockwise past The Nobbies past the Penguin Parade and towards Pyramid Rock. Again when Mandy was in the open ocean the swell slowed everything down but when she was swimming in protected waters she powered along swimming at a strong 6km / hour. 


Tomorrow the seas are meant to be kinder and Mandy will start off from her finish point from Day 1 and swim towards Pyramid Rock. It is a 12 - 13km swim in the open waters and then all things going well she will head back to Grossard Point to swim towards Cowes.


Again a big congratulations to Mandy for another great effort.

The Nobbies

Steve Price Breakfast Show Interview

Click here to listen to the Interview

Paralympian Amanda Drennan attempts epic swim around Phillip Island - Herald Sun

Click here for Herald Sun article

Some Background Info on the Closure of Warley Hospital in 2008

"Closing its doors for the last time"

Herald Sun, January 31st 2008

Written by Greg Hunt Local Member for Flinders

LATER today, Warley Hospital on Phillip Island will close its doors for the last time. 

The last patient has already left. The last nurse will sign off for the final time. The doors of the hospital will be locked forever.

There will be no more births or recoveries. No more palliative care
for residents wishing to spend their final days close to their homes and their families.
There will be no more hospital-based accident and emergency service for parents of toddlers or seniors with urgent conditions.

After 84 years, Phillip Island will cease to have a hospital. The not-for-profit bush nursing hospital will simply die...


read more

Mandy in The Star

View the Article here

Mandy in The Age

The Big Swim - Day 1 - March 16th 2011

 Day 1 of the swim (Wednesday 16th March) began with clear skies, light winds and lots of people gathered around San Remo Pier.  As can be seen below plenty of people came to support Mandy as she began her adventure at 9am.

With the tide in her favour Mandy powered through the channel to reach Cape Woolamai by 10.30 am after swimming approximately 7km.

Once she rounded the Cape the protection of the channel was long gone and she was met with some challenging conditions. The 2km slog parallel to Woolamai Beach was rough.

Mandy swam approximately 9km in her first day. Unfortunately the conditions for Thursday and Friday look like they will continue to test Mandy's endurance as 1-2 metre waves are expected. 

Her goal over the next couple of days is to set a good pace and swim through the agitated open waters before reaching the Nobbies where the sea conditions and the added danger of sharks around the seal colony will be more than enough to keep her occupied... 

Fingers crossed once she turns the corner and starts heading to the northern side of the island the conditions will be more favourable. 

Well done Mandy on a great first days swim.

Well wishers at Sam Remo Pier

Ben and Mandy

Getting organised with the shark cage

Mandy in the shark cage

Swimming around Cape Woolamai

Mandy in the shark cage

Mandy's progress on Day 1

Swim for Life Video!

What is Swim for Life? Link to Video

Less than a week to go!

Everyone spread the word about Mandy's swim. She starts next Wednesday. To donate click on the link below

Donate to Swim for Life here!!!

774 Interview

Listen to Lindy Burns interviewing Mandy last week on 774

Lindy Burns Interview

How to Donate

Hi all please follow this link for details on how to donate to Swim For Life.
 
Donate Here 

Help us get a 24 hour medical facility on Phillip Island

Painting to be Auctioned

This is an oil painting donated by Sharnee Taylor. It will be auctioned at the Swim for Life Gala, held after the swim. Oil on canvas, size approx A2

37 Days To Go

Hey guys,

Keeping you updated on the process, as well if anyone has any information they would like to include email me and I will post it on here for you. 

I am training hard for the swim. I have been training in the pool as well as at the beach to get use to the conditions. I am busy contacting as many people as I can to help with coverage and support. If there is anyone you can think of please contact them or me with ideas. Also pass this blog address on to anyone you can. The more the better.

It is getting closer and there is still a lot to be done but I am overwhelmed with the support from everyone and all of your help.

 

Thank you and will write soon.

Map of Phillip Island

Landscape shots from around the Island

The Nobbies

Smiths Beach

Interview with Mandy

Interview With Amanda Drennan By Sharnee Taylor.

 

Explain in detail ‘Swim For Life’ is about?

Swim For Life is about creating awareness and funds towards a 24-hour medical facility for Phillip Island. At present, there is no hospital at all on Phillip Island. The closest hospital is over 30 mins away in Wonthaggi.

Why are the effects of not having a hospital?

Since Warley Hospital closed at the start of 2008, there has been an over flow on Wonthaggi Hospital.

Also in times of car accidents, people have been unable to enter or leave the Island; therefore the only way to get off when in a medical emergency is to be airlifted to a Melbourne Hospital.

In summertime the Island over populates, more than tripling the regular amount of people. Simple accidents such as cutting your head open on a surfboard you currently have to travel over to Wonthaggi can take over 45 minuets if not longer in summers traffic conditions.

However this is not only a problem in the summertime but also with major events being held on the Island, such as: Grand Prix, Pyramid Rock, Superbikes, V8’s, Surfing Carnivals, just to name a few.

Back to the swim, what does it involve?

The swim is approximately 65kms around the circumference of Phillip Island. The swim will be done in a shark cage as Phillip Islands is know for having the largest Great White sharks in the southern hemisphere.

The swim will take approximately 4-5 days to complete being broken up into stages.

Are you scared?

 

I think I will be closing my eyes swimming through the Nobbies where the seal colony is. Where there are seals.. There are sharks. A few of my challenges will be some of the currents and tides, especially out at the Nobbies, which are quite strong. But my passion towards helping the Island overcomes my fears.

It is a great cause Mandy, I am sure there are so many people who want to get involved. How can people help?

Well Sharnee, people can help by spreading the word that Phillip Island is in desperate need of a Hospital. Donations are greatly appreciated; we are currently in the process of setting up a non-for profit charity account and get the bank account details as soon as possible.

We are looking for personal sponsors as well as businesses and companies to get involved. I am also inviting people to join in for a section of the swim, across the main beach in Cowes, which is one of the safest beaches to swim on Phillip Island. To be part of the swim we will be asking for a donation of $20, which will of course go towards the cause. I will soon update with the date and time of the public swim.

We will be holding a Gala after the swim (date and venue to be confirmed) where we will be holding an auction. We are looking for memorabilia to be donated, as well as artwork and prizes. 

 

My email address is mandy_drennan@hotmail.com if anyone wants to contact me to discuss further.

You seem very passionate about the cause, why is this so important to you?

My mother, Anne Drennan worked at Warley hospital for 29 years as a nurse. I was away in Germany at the time the Hospital closed, I felt so far away from home and wanted to help out in any way I could. The only thing I am good at is swimming J so I thought what could I do? I can up with the idea, which has never been done before- to swim around the Island to raise awareness and funds to go towards a 24-hour medical facility.

With the support of my family and friends, my dream is now becoming a reality, as I will be swimming around the Island in March. I hope the awareness and funds will be enough to open a 24-hour medical facility for Phillip Island.

24 Hour Medical Clinic

Swim for life is a fundraiser aimed towards raising money to build a new hospital or 24 hour medical centre, on Phillip Island. 

 

At present, there is no hospital on Phillip Island. The only hospital on Phillip Island was Warley Hospital, which was shut down in 2008 due to the financial problems after the change in government. 

 

Currently the closest hospital to Phillip Island is in Wonthaggi, over half an hour away, and back on the main land. 

 

This means in the case of a major accident, in an emergency, if there is a road closure or a traffic jam, the only way to get an injured person/s or critically ill person to a Hospital is to get them off Phillip Island by air/helicopter, which is a costly and not always accessible means of transport.

There is also another problem related to safety, that the people of Phillip Island have been facing, and that is the lack of ambulances or safety services in the area- which is an alarming truth given that Phillip Island is home to over 7000 permanent residence and is also one of Victoria, and Australia’s most popular tourist destinations- with over 3.5 million visitors a year and 50000 holiday makers.

 

The main theme of this swim is to raise awareness of this issue, to the broader community – there is no hospital on Phillip Island, and we would like there to be one, we need one, it is unsafe not to have one and hopefully, this swim can help raise enough money to build and run a new one.

My involvement is as simple as a young woman, wanting to give back to a community that has supported me so much over the years on my journey as an elite athlete, a Paralympian, and an Islander.

Great Australia Day Swim

 Preparing for 1.4km swim in Brighton on Australia Day

Start Line, I am over in the top left corner

Talking to the great 'Tammy Van Wisse' after the swim

My Story

I, Amanda Drennan was born on Phillip Island on the 22^nd of May 1988 at the former Worley Hospital. I was born missing my right leg for reasons that remain unknown. My mother, Anne Drennan was also a nurse their at the time of my birth.

Growing up on Phillip Island my mother and father thought it was very important for me to involved in a sport. They decided that I should start swimming, as living on an island being able to swim was a big part of every child’s upbringing.

I first started swimming lessons at the age of 3 at a local swimming pool. At first I struggled as I was told by instructors that I wasn’t using my legs enough! My mother thought that I should concentrate on mainly using my arms which saw immediate improvement. As I got a bit older I used to go and watch my older sister swim at squad training. I became quite bored sitting by the side of the pool and one day decided that I would give it a go myself. At first I was unable to complete a full lap but with the help of a bribe in the form of Freddo Frogs I could soon swim many.

At the age of ten I competed in my first state championships and a year later I represented Australia at the school pacific games. In 2000 I tried out for the Paralympic Games which were held in Sydney. I made it into a backstroke final and was offered a wildcard entry into the games. After discussion with my parents and head coach it was decided that it would be in my best career interests not to except the this offer. Since then I have represented Australia in Paralympic Games, World Championships and World Cups. Below is a brief list of my major achievements.

•       2002 World Championships in Argentina – Gold medal in medley relay, Silver in Freestyle relay and 4^th in the 100m  relay
•       2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. Bronze medal in freestyle relay, 5^th in 100m freestyle and 7^th in 100m backstroke 
•       2005 World Cup in England/ British Nationals – 1^st in 100m butterfly 
•       2007 – lived in Germany for 7 months to pursue my swimming career, staying at a sports school in Berlin 
•       2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Finalist in the 400m freestyle

After missing selection for the 2010 Commonwealth Games I am now focussed on a totally new challenge. In 2008, the Worley hospital was closed after a change in government due to a lack of funding. Currently the closest hospital to Phillip Island is in Wonthaggi which is half an hour a way. At the moment if there is a major accident or emergency this will often lead to a road closure on the Island meaning  that the only way for the injured to get to hospital is by helicopter. There is also a lack of ambulances in area. These issues are especially worrying in the summer time and during special events such as the Grand Prix and Pyramid Rock. During these times the population on the Island can increase threefold, leading to heavy congestion on the roads. In peak season the risk that someone will die due to poor ambulance response time and/ or the time it would take to get them to a hospital  (could be greater than an hour) is greatly increased.   

I feel that it is my time to give back to the Phillip Island community as they have always supported me both financially and emotionally throughout my career. In March 2011 I will be attempting to swim the full 66kms around Phillip Island to raise awareness and funds towards a hospital or a stabilisation centre for Phillip Island. In order to achieve my goal I will need support in the way of sponsorship or just to help raise awareness from as many people as possible. If you would like to help out or be a sponsor this would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thank you for your time.