Fiona Scott (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to express my deep regret for the loss of Olympian and long-time campaigner for teaching kids to swim, Eva Bory, who passed away in Arizona aged 77. For many who grew up in the seventies, Eva and Alex Bory were well-known identities. They were often seen swimming coaching at Marylands, Bondi Baths and at swimming centres in North Rocks, Toongabbie and Emu Heights. Eva specialised in stroke-teaching techniques with youngsters, from teaching herself to swim in a lake to ultimately holding the 1955 world record for the 100-metre backstroke.

Nineteen-year-old Eva came to Australia in 1956 as part of the Hungarian Olympic squad, where she helped break the world record for the 4x100-metre medley. After the games she sought and was granted political asylum. In 1961, with Forbes Carlisle she produced the Carlisle swimming program and methods, a cornerstone of competitive swimming still in use today. She went on to write Teach Yourself to Swim, published throughout the English-speaking world.

Many within the electorate of Lindsay have fond memories. Ian Ahern writes, 'Eva was my swimming coach at the Emu Plains centre'. Carly Eekman: 'My five kids attended the Emu Plains centre named after you. They were true water babies.' And Louise O'Neill could remember Eva handing out jelly beans. (Time expired)