NOT many 81-year-olds can beat their great-grandchildren in the pool.
But Gladstone swimmer Joan Green, who lives at Gladstone Heritage Retirement Village, doesn't cut her family any slack when it comes to black line time.
"My grandchildren and great-grandchildren all swim, but they say 'You still beat me, Nana," said Joan, a long-time member of the Gladstone Gropers Masters Swimming Club.
The retired cook originally from Lancashire in England recently swam 2km in a charity event to raise more than $2500 for Guide Dogs Queensland. She volunteers with fellow village resident Dave Byers, who is blind and lives with a guide dog called Queeny.
"I asked the members of the swimming group if they'd swim laps to help raise money for the guide dogs, not knowing how many would say yes," she said.
In the end 10 members swam a total of 35km in four hours.
"In 1983 my husband had a stroke which left him three-quarters blind and he had to learn to use a cane," Joan said.
Jack died 12 years later. "Since he had his stroke I've always supported the Guide Dogs and then when I moved into the retirement village I met Dave."
As a volunteer Joan is on-hand to help Dave with things like running him into town for appointments. In between supporting Dave, she trains with the swimming club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
"It's not just swimming up and down the pool and we have a coach on deck for every session.
"And every Sunday morning I get in the water at 7.30 and swim until 9am, then we have a morning tea. It's a real social gathering."
It was Joan's son who introduced his mum to the swimming club 17 years ago.
"I used to do ten-pin bowling but it came to the point where I was having trouble with my hand so I was looking for something else to do.
"My son was in the masters swimming group and he said 'why not give it a try?'"
The oldest member of the Gropers, Joan said the best thing about the club is the friendship, fun and keeping fit.
"And also there's not so much in the way of pressure on the body."
