From Poolside Parent to Recreation Manager: Dianne Jupp

I often say that I accidentally fell into the aquatics industry — and 20 years later, I’m still here!

My journey began after having my children. At the time, my eldest was 8 and my twins were 6, and I would take them to the Wundowie Pool after school. It was a great opportunity for them to socialise, meet other children and improve their swimming, but it was also a wonderful way for me to connect with our local community.

I had absolutely no experience in aquatics, so I never imagined that those after-school visits would lead to a career.

I was fortunate enough to be contacted by the then Shire of Northam and asked if I would be interested in running the Wundowie Pool for the following season. I didn’t have any qualifications, but I was told that if I completed my Bronze Medallion, First Aid and Lifeguard qualifications, they would consider me for the position.

So, I gave it a go! I completed the qualifications, applied for the position and was lucky enough to be offered the job.

That was back in 2006, when the Pool Operations Training Course was a very different experience to what it is today. The course ran over 10 days, followed by 100 hours of on-the-job training and 12 written assessments. And, of course, everything was handwritten and sent back through the post — a far cry from how training and assessments are completed today!

I spent five years as the sole operator at the Wundowie facility before the Shire and Town of Northam amalgamated. From there, I worked across both facilities, gaining valuable experience and meeting so many wonderful people along the way.

Over the years, I have also had the pleasure of working with some wonderfully amazing people who became mentors to me and helped shape me, both personally and professionally. People such as Colin Hassell, Mick Doughty, David Emery and Kim Johnson were always willing to share their advice, knowledge and experience. Chris Blankley was another person who was always happy to lend a hand, offer advice and share his knowledge.

Looking back, I realise just how fortunate I have been to have these people around me throughout my career. Their willingness to share their experience and support others has had a lasting impact on me, and I hope that I can continue to pass that same knowledge and support on to others throughout my own career.

One of the things I particularly love about working in this industry is the opportunity to work with the younger generation. I enjoy sharing my stories and experiences with them — and trying my best to keep up with their slang along the way! Hopefully, by sharing my journey and experiences, I can encourage some of our young staff to consider continuing their careers within the aquatics industry.

Many of our young staff start their careers at regional centres, gaining valuable hands-on experience and completing their training while they are with us. They then take those skills and qualifications with them as they continue through their university years and into their chosen careers.

One of the most rewarding things for me is when those young people move on, progress in their careers and still pick up the phone to ask for advice. It’s a real privilege to know that, even after they have moved on, they still value the knowledge and experience I can share with them. For me, that is what working in this industry is really about — sharing knowledge, supporting the next generation and hopefully helping them along their own career journey.

When the new Aquatic Facility opened on 26 January 2020, I started thinking about the next chapter of my career. I wanted to stay involved in aquatics and recreation but was ready for a new challenge. I applied for an Administration role at the Recreation Centre, where I could use my knowledge and experience from working across both aquatic facilities.

That role didn’t last very long, though! When the Recreation Coordinator position became available, David Emery approached me and asked if it was something I would consider taking on permanently. I accepted the opportunity, and six months later, when the Manager of Recreation Services position became available following Dave’s move to the warmer climate of Queensland, I decided to take another leap and apply.

In March this year, I was fortunate enough to be offered the position.

When I look back, it still amazes me that something as simple as taking my children to the local swimming pool after school led me down this career path. I never planned to work in aquatics, let alone recreation management, but I’ve learned that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never planned for.

What started as a way for my children and me to socialise has turned into more than 20 years in the aquatics and recreation industry. I’ve had the opportunity to learn, grow, take on new challenges and, most importantly, continue contributing to the community that started it all.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, for the people who have supported and guided me along the way, and for the friendships and connections I’ve made throughout my journey.