Ripples Leisure Centre Newsletter
ISSUE 09 - March 2015
this issue
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CUSTOM SOLUTIONS
About Us
Ripples Leisure Centre has been open for more than 20 years now and is still providing quality customer
services, with knowledgeable, qualified, caring and friendly staff.
Ripples continue to offer the opportunity to participate in a wide range of Aquatic and Fitness activities. We
have all year round Learn to Swim for all ages, Squad Training and Swim Club, Group Fitness Classes, Crèche,
Café, Aqua Aerobics, Personal Training, Birthday Parties, Boot Camps for adults and children and school holiday
programs including the Octo Ring and the Tarzan swing, plus much more.
Facilities, Services and Programs include: Spa and Sauna, Café, Crèche, Dietitian, Squad Program, Pool Shop,
Aquarobics, Heated Pools, Group Fitness, Learn to Swim, Birthday Parties, Full Gym Facilities, Personal Training,
Fitness Assessments, Seniors Programmes, & Holiday Programmes.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter to all our customers! Have a lovely and safe Easter with all your family and friends!
For all centre trading hours during this Easter period please visit the Ripples website
www.ripplesnsw.com.au/events/other-events-promotions or pick up a flyer from reception.
Message from the Acting General Manager
Dear Ripples Patrons,
Summer has come to an end and it was certainly a warm one. Ripples Leisure
Centre experienced a number of warm days as well as unseasonal cooler
weather. It’s still not too late to enrol into Ripples Swim School. Our unique
Swim School model means that participants can book in at any time rather
than waiting for the start of term program. We are also going to be making it
easier to book and pay online via our website which will be available in
March, come over and chat to our new swim school customer service area
to find out more.
We are also excited to announce that there is now Free Wi-Fi available
throughout Ripples St Marys for you to use whenever you’re here. Just find
‘Ripples Public’ and login and away you go. You can visit our webpage, login
to your account and change your details all while you work out or waiting for
your child’s lessons to finish.
Ripples Listens is a new program we have just launched which allows us to
communicate with our members and guests on a regular basis to find out
what you would like to see, what we can improve on, and any programs or
services that need a little bit of love. How to get involved, you can come
along to one of our Ripples Listens sessions, or send us an email:
[email protected]
We hope your loving the new health and fitness cardio equipment and have
created your own login. Did you know that you can synchronize the ‘My
Fitness Pal’ app on your phone to the cardio equipment, so you can keep
track on how many calories you have burnt off. If you need any help
creating a login or accessing the features, call over one of our friendly staff
who can show you through the system.
I hope to see you and all at Ripples very soon.
Regards,
Fit 4 Kidz Holiday
Program
13th—17th April 2014
9.30am—11.30am
Theme Days:
Monday: Team Challenge
Tuesday: Little Athletics
Wednesday: Sports Gala
Thursday: Kommando Style
Friday: Mini Olympics
Cost:
FREE for Family
Memberships
$45 Non members
$40 Members
for the 5 day program or
$12 per day
Age Group: 7-12 year olds
Must be a competent
swimmer,
limited
spots
available. Bookings taken at
reception.
Chris Brown
Acting General Manager
Seniors Week—FREE Zumba Gold® Class
We are celebrating Seniors Week! Join us for a FREE Zumba Gold® Class on Monday 16th March 2015,
commencing at 1.30pm followed by afternoon tea and a FREE Dietitian presentation. Reserve your
spot with reception.
Zumba Gold® is a special class designed for the active mature adult population or the true beginner
(deconditioned) participant. A Zumba Gold® class is very conscious of people’s possible physical limitations.
Get to know your Exercise Physiologist
Profile
Name: Katie Crowther-Wilkinson
Nick Name: Kate
Career Path so far: Accredited Exercise Physiologist
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time: Married, 2 children and a Senior Exercise
Physiologist
Favourite Food: Chocolate
Favourite Colour: Yellow
Favourite Movie and Why: Pitch Perfect – it’s a fun movie and makes me laugh no matter
how many times I watch it
Greatest Achievement: Completed a Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Worst Habit: Biting my finger nails
What you most like about Ripples: I love my clients, getting to know them all individually and working one on
one with them to meet there goals. Nothing is more rewarding then seeing my clients grow and building a
relationship with them through their journey! I also love all my work mates who make work a happy place to
come each day!
Get to know your Group Fitness Instructor
Profile
Name: Michelle Cullen
Career path so far: I have trained in the gym since the 90's, inspired by my dad who is still
bodybuilding at 68 years old! After having my 3 beautiful boys, I decided to complete my
Certificate III & IV at Tafe, which lead me to my dream job here at Ripples!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time: In 10 years time I see myself promoting health
and fitness within our local and greater community. Penrith and it's surrounds have a great
spirit and we should nurture it by keeping healthy mentally and physically through fun
community programs and events. I'd love to be part of that.
Favourite Food: How could I name just one! I love everything - Chocolate, falafel and hummus and lasagne are a
few!
Favourite Colour: Indigo
Favourite Movie and why: Amelie - It's quirky, funny & heart-warming. The soundtrack is brilliant and I love
France!
Greatest Achievement: 3 drug free childbirths, followed by finishing Tafe last year (whilst supporting my husband
through a serious accident)
Worst Habit: I have been known to lick a knife if there's Peanut butter on it! (Don't tell ANYONE!)
Most Embarrassing Moment: I started a new job, and spent the whole day walking around with my fly open at
the back of my skirt. My boss told me in the afternoon and said "One of the guys pointed it out".... cringe....
What you most like about Ripples: I knew I wanted part of it the moment I walked in. It's a fit family, who
support, nurture and encourage each other to be the best version of themselves. I love the people, the spirit and
the staff. What's not to like?
Six Dream Dinner Guests and why: Arnold Schwarzenegger - to be inspired, The Dalai Lama - to gain wisdom, A
teenage me - to reassure, David Attenborough - to learn, An Alien - to put things into perspective, my late
brother - to tell him it's ok
Why you should continue swimming
lessons in winter!
SWIM, SAFE, SURVIVE!
At times swimming lessons can be
seen as a seasonal activity,
especially as the weather outside
grows cooler and other activities
compete for your child’s time and
your family’s income. There are
compelling reasons, however, to
continue with swimming lessons
year round and to make swimming
a top priority for your child and
your family’s budget. Following are
some important reasons for you to
consider.
Many parents start swimming
lessons out of a concern for their
child’s water safety. Although
swimming lessons are never a
substitute for parental supervision,
they play a crucial part in building
layers of protection for young
children. The skills and behaviours
that are taught in lessons need
constant reinforcement throughout
the year. The risks posed by
drowning don’t go away in the
cooler parts of the year, so neither
should the lessons – they are one of
the most proactive things a parent
can do for their child.
In addition to safety issues,
continuing lessons is important to
build and reinforce existing skills.
This is particularly true with
children under 5 years whose
long-term skill retention and muscle
memory are just beginning to
develop. A break in lessons that
stretches over many months will
often result in a loss of skills. Even
when parents can’t see substantial
progress every week, the child is at
least maintaining the current ability
level, and that is progress in itself.
Don’t let all the time and money
spent on lessons go to waste, keep
up their skills.
Ripples Leisure Centre St Marys
pools are maintained at constant
temperatures throughout the year,
so even when it is cooler outside, it
can still be a comfortable,
year-round, summer experience in
the water. With a little extra
attention, such as keeping children
warm and drying them off well
when they leave the pool,
swimming will stay comfortable and
beneficial all year.
Keep these ideas in mind as you
continue with your lessons.
Swimming is one of the best
activities for children and it’s a
shame if it only happens in the
summer. Whenever possible, enjoy
your swimming all year round!
© Swim Australia 2005 & Dave
DuBois, Independent Learn to Swim
Consultant and Swim Australia’s
Swim TOUR Leader
Swim School Change
Ripples Swim School is
working hard to raise the
standard of Learn to Swim
instruction to ensure positive
and timely outcomes for our
students.
We
have
introduced
some
new
changes in addition to the no
backfloats policy to our
program these include the
following:
Making our infants and
preschool program more
skills base rather than solely
age we have done this by:

Reviewing criteria and
level outcomes
 Increasing
the
age
requirements for Turtles
level to 3 year - 5 years
rather than starting from
2 years. As children this
age benefit better from a
parent
and
children
environment.
 2 year old participants to
now participate in a
Starfish level (parent &
child class)
 Introduction of a third
pre-school level called
Eels a progression from
the penguins level. This
level is a modified goldfish class applicable for
children under 5 years
No Back floats at Ripples!
You may have noticed that since the start of Block 1 2015 Ripples Swim School is back float free. Back floats along
with other “floaties” products such as arm bands, bodysuits, rings around the chest or waist, lifejackets
etc….artificially keep your child afloat in the water. As such floatation devices create a fake environment.
With the floatation aid the child is held up by the device (obviously, because that is its purpose) so their brain
does not receive the information about how to hold themselves up in the water (swim by themselves). Floaties
prevent the brain from receiving real information about the water environment. The child’s brain only receives
information about breathing, balance, coordination, tactility, etc., based upon the influence of a floatation
device.”
Learning any physical skill is simply the process of your brain receiving sensory input from the environment. Your
brain then processes that sensory input and sends signals to different parts of your body to adjust, coordinate,
move, and compensate in order to achieve the desired action or movement. Eventually, with enough sensory
input and practice, your brain will have mastered how to maneuver in the desired way in that specific
environment.
Since the child is being held up by the aid, all the child needs to do in order to move about in the water (“swim”)
is kick or wiggle their legs in any random motion. The arms are not even necessary with the floatation aid (and
they are very necessary in actual swimming), and the leg movements they learn to use are random, sporadic, and
will be completely ineffective in actual swimming. They learn the wrong motions and build non-functional habits.
When you use floatation devices, you are actually wiring your child’s brain with the wrong information. It is
actually disadvantageous because your child has built wrong habits, and it is much harder to break a bad habit
than it is to just start from scratch and learn something new.
Ripples is not opposed to the use of all floatation devices that serve a purpose to build on skills such as kickboards
to develop a strong effective kick and noodles that keep a swimmers hips on top of the water and balance their
centre body of gravity assisting students whilst they are building the strength to master the skill independently as
both these devices support the moment/skill rather than hinder it.
Floatation aids are also serve their purpose in the recreational swimming environment but it is important to note
that no floatation device ever substitutes direct adult supervision and is the reason Ripples Leisure Centre
endorses Royal Life Savings Keep Watch Campaign.
“Article taken from DoMan.Mom website “.
Do your New Year’s Resolutions include losing
weight or improving your eating habits &
nutrition?
Gold Awards 2014
Be Strong, Be Happy, Be Healthy!
Our very own Accredited Practising
Dietitian Jamie-lee Farrugia is here
at Ripples Hydrotherapy to assist,
motivate and guide you to achieve
your weight loss goals. With over 5
years of full time study in the field
of Health, Nutrition and Dietetics
under her belt, Jamie-lee is the
answer you have been searching
for!
Did you know that you may be
eligible to receive 5 sessions with
an Allied Health Professional:
Dietitian, with the complete cost
covered under Medicare? If you
suffer from Depression, Diabetes,
High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, etc., be sure to take
advantage of this benefit.
The next time you visit your local
GP, simply ask them to complete an
Enhanced Primary Care Plan form,
with a number from 1-5 in the
Dietitian Box provided. How easy is
that!?
Dietitian consultations include body
composition analysis, diet history,
weekly diet meal plan and
continuing professional nutrition
advice. Furthermore, consultations
can be accessed through your
Private Health Care Fund Rebate
or
alternatively
by
Private
Consultation.
Ripples has successfully
maintained its GOLD status in
The Australian Health and
Fitness Industry Quality
Awards 2014.
To fulfil your New Year’s
Resolutions for 2015 and get you
feeling healthier, happier and more
determined to get moving and eat
well! Book an appointment today
with our Ripples Dietitian and make
a positive and long term lifestyle
change!
These awards are based on
an ‘excellence framework’
which is used to guide and
assess organisations in their
adoption of systems that
produce
high
quality
outcomes.
Tips/Facts of the month:
1. Have you ever heard the saying
‘An apple a day keeps the doctor
away’ and wondered why? Apples
are a highly nutritious and cleansing
fruit high in Vitamins A, C and B1.
Apples are also rich in pectin, which
can help reduce high cholesterol
levels and remove toxic metals
from our bodies. Do you have an
Apple a day?
2. Chia Seeds are one of nature’s
Super Foods! They are high in
essential fatty acids, protein,
soluble fibre, antioxidants, vitamins
and minerals, thus the perfect
addition to your bottle of water or
breakfast smoothie.
Our Dietitian is located at the
Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre, feel
free to send Jamie-Lee an email:
[email protected] or to
make a booking please phone
(02) 9833 3075.
In 2014, Ripples was again
assessed against four criteria.

Programs, services and
customer care
 People (workforce)
 Risk, safety &
environment
 Business management
and leadership
In order for Ripples to
maintain its GOLD status we
had to highlight achievements in the previous 12
months as well as take a
detailed look at all key
aspects of our business. All
applicants involved in the
Australian Health & Fitness
Industry Quality Award have
demonstrated a strong commitment to Quality Improvement.
Thank you to our continued
customer support.
Ripples Hydrotherapy Centre
What is Hydrotherapy
A form of treatment conducted in a
heated pool to help regain or
enhance physical well being.
Hydrotherapy exercises are a series
of
gentle
movements,
not
swimming or aqua aerobics –
performed in a pool maintained at
32 degrees to 34 degrees Celsius.
Properly used, Hydrotherapy can
expedite the rehabilitation and cure
of muscle and joint injuries as well
as assisting in post operative pain
relief.
and change room. Four banks of
spa jets at various heights are
located in the deep end of the pool.
These allow various activities and
exercises to be undertaken as well
as the potential to be used for
massage application. Entry to the
pool is via stairs, or a pool hoist.





Strengthen muscles
Relieve pain
Promote relaxation
Improve general fitness
Improve balance and
co-ordination
Develop water confidence
Movement in the water is easier
than on land, therefore movement
are easier and the range of
movements can be increased. The
warmth of the water increases
circulation and aids in relaxing
tense muscles. Its can effectively
relieve conditions such as chronic
arthritis.
Hydrotherapy Facilities:
The complex includes treatment
rooms,
rehabilitation
room,
multipurpose room and recovery
area. The pool has a rail around its
edges to enable exercise and the
use of equipment. Separate male
and female change rooms are
included as well as disabled shower
Buddy Personal Training is
great for people wanting to
train with a friend. Friends
with similar fitness goals can
greatly benefit for Buddy
Personal Training.
Working out together will
enhance motivation, assurance and social interaction.
The benefits are many and can
help:

Buddy Personal Training
All sessions are 60 minutes
and with a Certified Personal
Trainer. Costs are listed
below:
Hoist Access
Ripples staff are available to
operate the hoist alongside the
pool. If you do require assistance to
exit and/or enter the hoist when in
the water, or to transfer from a
wheelchair to the hoist, you will
need to have a Carer with you for
your session.
Members:
$85 single session
$320 for 4 sessions
Non Members
$100 single session
$380 for 4 sessions
Our Personal Trainers will
develop
a
personalised
Fitness routine to suit your
needs
&
goals.
Our
commitment, focus & results
driven approach will provide
you with the Safe friendly &
Professional
environment
you’ve been looking for.
All Sessions are offered by
our
Certified
Personal
Trainers
who
are
all
Registered
with
Fitness
Australia.
CITY2SURF
Saturday 9th August 2015
Join the Ripples Team!
How to Register:
www.city2surf.com.au
SAVE THE DATE
Members Night Out
“Lets go bowling” - Saturday 25th July 2015
Seniors Week
Free Zumba Gold® Class - Monday 16th March 2015
Fit 4 Kidz Holiday Program
Monday 13th - Friday 17th April 2015
Learn to Swim Penrith
Term 1 2015 concludes on Thursday 2/4/15
Students are encouraged to enrol in the Ripples St Marys program for the
winter months. Penrith participants can enrol from Swap Day on 29/3/15
pending availabilities. If you have additional questions regarding the
booking process please contact Tammy our LTS Team Leader via
[email protected] or phone reception on (02) 9833 3000.
Are you part of a Team?
YES
Team Name:
Ripples Leisure Centre
Password:
Fitness247
Select BLUE GROUP
For more information on
City2Surf please visit
www.ripplesnsw.com.au or
keep an eye out on Facebook
for further updates!
Learn to Swim St Marys
Rebooking for Block 2
Existing clients same class/day/time 8/3/15 to 28/3/15
Swap Day
29/3/15
New Client Bookings 30/3/15 to 14/4/15
Block 1 concludes
12/4/15
Due to Public Holidays, swimming lessons will not operate on the following
dates and you have not been charged for these days.
Good Friday - 3/4/15, Easter Saturday 4/4/15, Easter Sunday 5/4/15,
Easter Monday 6/4/15, ANZAC Day (Saturday) 25/4/15
We are pleased to announce that our Customer Portal Ripples Online is now
active. Ripples online is a new service with the capabilities to allow Ripples
Learn to Swim members to login to: update your address and account
details as well as pay your outstanding balances for Learn to Swim. It will
mean you will no longer be required to line up at reception to re-book your
child/ren for the next block of swimming lessons instead you can complete
this process in the comfort of your own home or on your mobile.
www.ripplesnsw.com.au/membership/member-login
Ripples Leisure Centre
St Marys
Charles Hackett Drive
St Marys NSW 2760
(02) 9833 3000
Penrith
119 Station St
Penrith NSW 2750
(02) 4721 3625
Hydrotherapy
Creek Rd
St Marys NSW 2760
(02) 9833 3075
www.ripplesnsw.com.au
Email: [email protected]