Pool access award splash- Jan Sharp helped pave the way for people with disabilities to get a

By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully’s Jan Sharp has worked for more than 30 years helping people less fortunate than herself.
And the 71-year-old swimming teacher has now won this year’s Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Recognition of Outstanding Contribution Award for her dedication to securing equal access to the water for people with disabilities.
Mrs Sharp was a founding member of the VICSWIM (now known as Aquatics and Recreation Victoria) committee for people with disabilities and helped establish a course for teachers of people with disabilities that is still in use today.
“Jan made it her mission to ensure people with disabilities were given every opportunity to participate, learn and be involved in aquatics along with the rest of society,” an ARV tribute said.
“She was one of the early pioneers who paved the way for others to follow.
“The scope and variety of community based programs, available today for people with disabilities, would not have been possible without pioneers like Jan Sharp.”
Mrs Sharp said she was very proud and humbled and felt she represented many other volunteers and staff.
“I’m not into awards really, because the one thing I’ve learnt is you don’t do it on your own,” she said.
“So I don’t feel it really belongs to me.”
Mrs Sharp said people with disabilities ‘weren’t allowed anywhere’ when she began her crusade. She worked with intellectually disabled swimmers.
“I’d book a lane in a pool to go and train them, and within three or four weeks I’d be asked to leave the public pool because they didn’t like the sight of them and they thought it was catching and didn’t want to swim with them,” she said.
“And this was only 35 years ago!”
She said today’s wheelchair-friendly entrances were just one major change.
“You used to have to cart them in because there were steps in to swimming pools and you couldn’t get the wheelchair in,” she said.
“We were carrying people in. So it’s come a long way.”
Mrs Sharp was involved with the Paralympic Games and helped establish the Special Olympics in Australia.
She was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to Special Olympics in 1990.
“I just don’t like people not having a fair go,” she said.
“I was in the fortunate position to help do something about it.”
Rheumatoid arthritis left Mrs Sharp’s father disabled.
“I didn’t like the way he got treated sometimes, he was quite bright but he looked a mess,” she said.
“It always upsets me when someone’s a little bit different and they’re treated as though they’re morons or something.”
Mrs Sharp was a long distance swimmer and lifeguard in England and even once represented her homeland.
“I’m not blessed with any skills. I had to do it the hard way,” she said.
“The thing I realised was ‘give people a chance’.”
“I got there with no ability, nothing, just a coach who kept pushing me.”
Mrs Sharp has now retired from her Special Olympics and VICSWIM duties but still offers assistance when needed.
“Most of it now is in place, it’s just up to people to change their attitudes,” she said.
“We’ve still got a long way to go. They’re still not accepted. It’s a bit sad really.”