AS THE YOUNG TWIG IS BENT, SO SHALL IT GROW

I am old enough to remember when the then Premier of NSW, Neville Wran, asked a perplexed journalist, whether he was from the ABC!
The shocked ABC Stateline Crew are unlikely to remember where they came from as they face the reality of 4 am filming this morning. This is the best time to meet face to face with the national treasure and coach Mary Wood who seems to be in a habit of growing the nation's swimming champions at Scarborough.

Ever since my family tasted the ultimate sea change three years ago my three girls are up at 4 every morning bar Sunday.
Morning comes. You rise, refreshed from a good night's sleep on a comfy waterbed bed. You hit the hard bench at Scarborough pool and begin a busy 90 minutes of reflecting on arms splashing and studying mechanics of Mary Wood's training secrets. In her signature red cargo pants, Mary clicks stopwatch million times and peppers neverending words of wisdom and encouragement in every direction. Welcome to the real life of a swimming family. You will be exhausted and wishing to be back in the waterbed too. Your life appears simultaneously real and alien as the first sun rays dive into your pupils.

The 12yrs & under Girls swam a fantastic race to finish with a silver medal in the 200m Freestyle relay. Congratulations to Kylie Palmer, Tara Vernon, Danielle de Launey and Alexandra Imrich.
—Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton Swimming Newsletter January 2003

2003 Queensland 50m Sprint Championship - 8/02/2003 to 9/02/2003
Girls 9-10 50 LC Metre Freestyle
Gabriella Imrich won bronz medal