Illabo local turned Deniliquin PE teacher Brenda Norman was never far from the water. Now, she’s preparing for the hardest open swim in the world: crossing the English channel.
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Brenda’s been by the pool as long as she can remember, training with the swimming club in Junee and representing at state level during her years at Junee High.
“Junee was really my training pool,” she said.
Now 36, she’s been swimming 35 kilometres over six days a week since Easter under the guidance of Chloe McCardel, open water coaching-great who’s crossed the channel 21 times herself.
She Skypes with McCardel fortnightly and trains with her squad in Melbourne once a month. Four days a week she swims in the Edward River, and travels three hours away to the Echuca pool twice a week.
“I train early in the morning, and in winter there were a few sessions at only 8 degrees and with air temperatures below 0, it was pretty brutal,” she said.
“After a bad swim in that cold the only way I can describe it is you feel intoxicated.
“I came out having lost coordination, I couldn’t speak, couldn’t dress myself or get home.”
She’s not just a stickler for self-punishment. Brenda was motivated by a cause close to her new home’s heart.
A number of suicides in Deniliquin over the past two years have rocked the community and high school, where Brenda works.
The swim, for her charity Channel4change, aims to raise awareness and funds for mental health services in the region.
“Obviously a lot of people suffer, and we don't have the facilities to look after people who need help.”
“I wanted to champion a cause and get people talking about mental health not mental illness.”
Since she kicked off the campaign earlier this year the charity has raised $15,000, which will fund a series of mental health first aid courses.
When she tackles the channel in August next year it should be a balmy 14 degrees, but that won’t stop the jellyfish.
“People come out looking like they’ve had an anaphylactic shock and unable to breathe with the swelling,” she said.
No wet suits or protection are allowed and Brenda can’t touch the boat or have contact with any crew members during the swim, who are only permitted to throw her food and fluids.
Depending on the day, the swim is roughly 40-50 kilometres due to the strength of the currents between Dover, England and Calais, France.
With only 1452 having crossed the channel successfully, less than have climbed Everest, her expedition is certainly drawing heads.
“I just hope my body holds up,” she said.
“I’ve certainly done all the training possible to put myself in a position to complete it, so hopefully all the stars align.”
Donations to the cause can be made directly though the Channel4change website.
