It was in the town of Tailem Bend, 100km southeast of Adelaide, that Heather Klieve was confronted by the bikie gang.
What made it worse was that Heather, a swim coach based at Mt Gambier, 300km away, was driving a van packed with teenage swimmers on their way to a meet.
“Some of the kids made some questionable comments to the bikies while we were waiting at a petrol station,” Heather said.
“When we left, about 25 of them came after us, riding very close behind.”
Eventually, terrified but conscious of her duty of care to her charges, Heather stopped the van, got out, approached the leader of the bikies and demanded to know what they were doing.
“Well, missus,” the bearded, tattooed bikie replied, “we thought you might have needed some help keeping those kids quiet for a while.”
With that he gave her a smile, touched his helmet and the gang disappeared down the highway.
That story, and a hundred others, are contained in a book, curiously titled Shut Up And Say Something, written by Heather Klieve, a swim coach at Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort for the past dozen years.
Explaining the title, Heather said: “When you’re confronted with something you should firstly shut up and say nothing – just listen carefully and consider. Then, when you do say something, say it confidently and with purpose.”
Heather, formerly a nurse, took up swim coaching in 1980 and became the first female in South Australia to earn accreditation to coach at a national level.
She was a coach at the 2000 Pacific School Games – where teams from all states and territories, as well as more than 20 visiting nations, competed in what was a lead into the Sydney Olympics.
The book, which took Heather nearly a decade to write and review, chronicles her experiences as a swim coach in South Australia between 1980 and the early 2000s, and recalls the hundreds of outstanding young people she mentored.
She moved to Noosa in 2006 and was appointed head coach at the Noosa Aquatic Centre, where she remained for three years until she answered an advertisement for a position at Noosa Springs.
“I was looking for a new challenge,” Heather said.
“This is the job I wanted. I’m my own boss and I work with some amazing people.
“I coach people aged from two to 70. It’s very, very challenging and keeps me grounded.”
Heather can be found at the Noosa Springs pool most mornings from 6am to 9.30am, and in the afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. If you’re interested in buying a copy of her book, just ask her.
