Narre Warren baton runner and accomplished swimmer Gloria Hardy visited Chairo Christian College in Pakenham on Monday to share her relay experience. Back: Tasmin and Jemma. Front: Jason, Gloria Hardy and Liam.WELL-loved swim coach Gloria Hardy ran with the Queen’s Baton in Phillip Island last week, but found the experience a little lonely.
Due to security reasons, spectators were unable to line up along the bridge that connected San Remo to Phillip Island, but Ms Hardy said she was met by a group of excited friends and family and absolutely loved the experience.
The Narre Warren resident was nominated to run by her daughter and said she was delighted but shocked to be selected. The mother of three adult children teaches swimming at the Beaconsfield Pool and still swims competitively.
Ms Hardy holds Australian Masters records for the 50 metre, 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke and has competed in Japan, Canada, England, the United States and New Zealand.
Heavily involved in the Berwick Church of Christ, Ms Hardy also does much pastoral care in the community reaching out to needy Casey residents.
Since 1992, the 66-year-old has also worked with missionaries overseas offering support in many third world countries.
She has travelled to Iraq three times since the end of the first Gulf War, where she fed and helped care for dying and malnourished babies.
For the past seven years Ms Hardy has been to Indonesia to teach swimming and offer support at many orphanages and remote villages.
Following her baton run on Thursday Ms Hardy travelled to Frankston to watch her former swimming pupil and champion marathon swimmer Tammy van Wisse take part in her leg of the relay.
“We have some great memories from way back as I taught her and her family to swim,” Ms Hardy said.
“We met up afterwards and had a lovely time.”
Ms Hardy said she felt overwhelmed when she realised she had been selected to run.
“It really just overwhelmed me. My daughter wanted me to be chosen so much and I was really excited for her,” she said.
“She just jumped for joy when I opened the envelope.
“She knew about the whole thing before I did.
“It was just awesome.”
