Students of Kevin Charles, just want things to go back to the way they were. 79699 Picture: PAUL JEFFERS
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
HOBSONS Bay City Council received a petition last week, with 60 signatures from outraged residents and patrons of the BayFit Leisure Centre in Altona.
The residents are up in arms over a Centre and Altona Swimming Club decision that essentially shut down their swimming program by dismissing long-time coach Kevin Charles.
Kevin’s program, Swimming and Fitness Altona, ran out of the BayFit Leisure Centre alongside the Altona Swim Club for 17 years.
According to mother of two, Sue, Kevin’s program, unlike the Altona Swim Club, isn’t focused on competitions but training and fitness.
“He’s a successful coach, he coached my son to be a three-time medallist at the State Championships,” she said.
Sue claims Altona Swim Club’s decision to drop Kevin as their coach and prevent his program from training at the pool was a ploy to “piggy-back” off Kevin’s numbers, with the club sending an email to Kevin’s clients reading: “all swimmers being coached and trained under the new arrangements will be required to be a member (recreational or competitive) of the Altona Swimming Club”.
“They’re just trying to inflate their numbers,” Sue said.
“We’d like BayFit to offer lanes not affiliated with the Altona Swim Club.”
Despite his years of coaching at the centre and his endeavours, Kevin never had a written contractual agreement for access to the lanes.
Another mum, Amelia, said Kevin’s clients did not want to join the Altona Swim Club.
Kevin told Star the entire saga has not only forced the shut down of his business but is also affecting his health.
He agreed the club was just trying to inflate numbers, with Kevin coaching more than 100 swimmers.
“The swim club hasn’t had many members over the last few years,” he said.
“It’s like 17 years of my life have just been dragged out from under me. I didn’t do anything wrong and I wasn’t a bad person.”
The petitioners hope the council will be able to persuade BayFit Leifure Centre to grant them access to some lanes. Star contacted BayFit Leifure Centre and the Altona Swimming Club but they refused to comment.
