The People of Project Elevate: Anita's Story

Royal Life Saving
Sep 2
2 min read

For 81-year-old Anita Cohen, stepping into the pool at Lithgow’s JM Robson Aquatic Centre wasn’t just about learning to swim - it was about rewriting a lifelong story of fear, resilience, and independence. Anita never learned to swim as a child due to a difficult upbringing and lack of support.

A non-fatal drowning incident at age five left her with a lingering fear of water that stayed with her well into adulthood. Despite regularly visiting the pool in recent years, she has always relied on swimming noodles for buoyancy and mobility. Living alone now, Anita realised how important it was to look after her own safety and wellbeing: “I live on my own and I thought—I’ve got to look after myself, because no one else is around to do it.”

Why the Program Matters

The Royal Life Saving NSW Adult Learn to Swim Program offered Anita a chance she never thought she’d have - the opportunity to swim independently, without aids, and with proper technique. Delivered over 10 weeks and tailored for adults, the program breaks down barriers that have kept many older Australians from learning to swim, whether due to fear, access, or life circumstances. Anita’s first lesson was a triumph: floating unassisted for the very first time, something she described as “so exciting.” She hopes that learning proper swimming skills will not only improve her water safety but also support her lung function and chronic pain management. Guided by her late mother’s words - “You’ve got tunnel vision—you can do anything you put your mind to” - Anita is proving that it’s never too late to overcome fears, gain confidence, and embrace new possibilities in the water and beyond.