Alex Vaccher is a Lane Cove Local studying Occupational Therapy at University. He is also the Business Regional Development Manager for Sydney Metro (North Shore/Northern Beaches) for Rainbow Club.
In the Cove first met Alex when he started volunteering for The Lane Cove Toy Library (he is their Train Tracks expert!). A few months later, he was a candidate seeking election as a Lane Cove Councillor. Alex has been part of Lane Cove Council’s Sustainability Advisory Committee since 2022 and is a member of the Council’s Youth Advisory Group. In other words, he is very busy.
We asked Alex to tell us about his work with Rainbow Club.
What is Rainbow Club?
Rainbow Club is a network of social swimming clubs for children and young adults with a disability. We’re a non-profit that provides lessons that accommodate our students’ needs and provide a fun and safe environment for learning swimming and water safety skills.
Rainbow Club’s Founders, Ron and Lily Siddons, believed all children – including children with a disability, had the right to learn to swim, be safe, and experience fun and freedom in the water. Their vision for Rainbow Club is as true today as it was in 1969.
Katherine, a parent of two Rainbow Club members, explains why Rainbow Club has made a difference to her family:
“When I tried to enrol my son in mainstream swimming lessons, I was faced with the fact that he needed a private lesson, and we were worried about how his behaviour would be with the rest of the class. He happily fitted into Rainbow Club, where he found a quieter environment free of distractions. They understood he needed things done a little differently and were happy to accommodate things such as him being safely in the water prior to his lesson to regulate himself and understand his behavioural challenges.
However, with the Rainbow Club, we didn’t just find a great place to swim we also found a “family”. My younger son became friends with all the brothers and sisters of the members, and we found support and encouragement through the other parents and great teachers there. My older son went from being plucked out of the pool at a swimming carnival to someone who can easily swim 500 metres independently in a couple of years. Now my younger son swims there and the boys look forward to it every week.”
Where Are the Nearest Rainbow Clubs?
We have several locations at or near Lane Cove, including:
Lane Cove – Saturdays 12:30 pm- 4:30 pm at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
Lane Cove West – Sundays 1.00 pm -5.00 pm at Carlile Swimming Lane Cove West
North Sydney – Saturdays 1.00 -4.00 pm at Wenona School, North Sydney
How Did You Get Involved with Rainbow Club?
I started volunteering with Rainbow Club in 2020.
Initially, I was completing some community service hours for school, but I found the experience so rewarding that I continued volunteering.
In 2022, Rainbow Club offered to train me as a swim instructor, and now I have been teaching for almost three years.
Why do you Like Working with Rainbow Club?
As a teacher and now development manager at Rainbow Club, I love seeing the impact we have on our students and their families. The teachers I work with at each club are amazing and passionate about what they do and contribute at the pool level to an excellent experience for all involved.
What Are Some of Your Highlights?
For me, my highlights with Rainbow Club have been getting involved in the Squad Carnivals and the Malabar Magic.
We run carnivals for our higher-level students so that they can participate in races, meet new people and get recognised for their efforts in the pool. It’s always a great day out, especially when some of my students are in the water racing.
The Murray Rose Malabar Magic is Rainbow Club’s largest fundraiser each year. It’s held every February and open to everyone who wants to swim 1km, 2.5km or 5km. I’ve swam the 1km with some of my students, and whilst it can be tiring, it’s a fantastic day out for everyone involved.
What Help Does Lane Cove’s Rainbow Club Need?
Rainbow Club is always looking for swim instructors, volunteers and people interested in becoming instructors.
We look for passionate individuals who want to provide quality lessons for students with additional needs, some of whom may have had negative experiences in a group or mainstream setting.
We also appreciate donations from individuals, community groups, and organisations to ensure that we can develop and operate our clubs, supply them with equipment, and train our teachers.
Funds raised go back into providing resources, pool space, teachers, and student support during their lessons. In addition to volunteering or donating, you can always follow us on social media or spread the word about us in whatever ways you can (see contact details below).
How Can A Parent Enrol a Child In Rainbow Club?
If you want to enrol your child in our program, Click here. We have several locations on the North Shore, Northern Beaches, and many more around Sydney.
If you are an existing swim instructor who wants to apply to work with us, Click here.
Finally, if you would like to become a volunteer or know somebody who may be interested in volunteering at our water clubs, I recommend that you apply here.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, and for those who may need to do community service hours through school or programs such as Duke of Edinburgh, you might even get a future job out of it like I did.
For those interested in becoming an instructor, we also have our Train to Teach program, where we train prospective instructors within Rainbow Club.
We work with registered training organisations (RTOs) who facilitate the initial course, then we provide trainees with the experience on how to work with students of various ages and abilities.
Our trainees’ qualifications are recognised nationally, too, so you can work at centres outside of Rainbow Club. If you would like more information on this, please reach out to me directly – my email is [email protected]
Tell us the Alex Vaccher Story…
I’m 20 years old and have lived in Lane Cove my whole life. I’m entering my third year of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at ACU. It was through Rainbow Club that I found out what an Occupational Therapist was and decided to study it because of my involvement with them. I am their regional development manager on the North Shore and Northern Beaches and have been in the role since August 2024.
I’m a current swim instructor with almost three years’ experience and have worked in mainstream and private teaching settings.
What is your Favourite Thing to do in Lane Cove?
I really enjoy going for a swim at the local pool when I have the time to, as well as bushwalking throughout Warraroon Reserve and the Bushland Park behind the Golf Course.
There are so many recreational activities available in the built and natural environment, so these are some of my favourite things to do.
Apart from this, I enjoy spending time up in the plaza and the Canopy, grabbing lunch or catching up with friends and family.
What is your Favourite Coffee Shop in Lane Cove?
If I had to choose one (there are so many in Lane Cove!), I would have to go with One Seed. They’re a great business that makes great coffee. They also make some great donuts, my favourite being their custard donuts.
Rainbow Club Contact Details
Website: www.myrainbowclub.org.au/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rainbowclubaustralia/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rainbowclubaustralia/
Contact Form: www.myrainbowclub.org.au/contact-us/
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