By RON LANE
FOR Jan Croft – iconic figure in the sporting fraternity of Noosa – her involvement and indeed her love of water sports started at the ripe old age of seven years.
When most little ladies of that age are chasing kittens and other cuddly animals, little miss Jan Paine (her then family name) was following that black line that lies on the bottom of every training pool – the line that all swimmers must follow come rain or shine. And most important of all she loved it … even two sessions a day training for her local team the Ayr Swimming club.
However for Jan it was all worthwhile. At 15 years of age when eligible to enter her first open state titles, she made everyone sit up and take notice by winning the 200, 400,and 800 metre freestyle events.
Jan was born and educated in the North Queensland town of Ayr. She left school at 16 and worked locally for 12 months before shifting to Townsville, where she continued her swimming career by joining the Tobruk Swimming Club, which was based at the Tobruk Memorial Pool.
“When I lived in Townsville I started working for the Townsville Bulletin. My day started at 5.30am with a training session at the pool. This usually consisted of a three to three-and-a-half mile training swim.
After these sessions I would sometimes start to doze off about mid-morning while sitting at my typewriter. One old jurno who knew what was going on would walk past and quickly give me a gentle dig in the ribs,” she said with a laugh. “Then it was back to the typing; and at day’s end back to the pool for another session. It was a hard grind but I loved it.”
Following this Jan moved to Brisbane where she trained under the legendary Arthur Cusack at the newly constructed Centenary Pool on Gregory Terrace. Then in 1961 she competed in her first National Titles and at 18 won the 800-metre freestyle.
“I stayed with Arthur for 18 months, swam again at the Nationals in Melbourne in ’62 and again won the 800m. At that time the Commonwealth Games were coming up and because they had no 800m freestyle for women I tried out for the 400m freestyle and finished third.
Unfortunately for me they were only taking the first two so I missed out on the team.”
“After this I met up with coach Don Talbot. I trained with him for a short time but by the end of ’62 I had enough and decided to retire. On looking back at the coaches, Cusack was very successful and among his team was the famous David Thiler. Talbot was also one of the best but he was an extremely tough. He had previously made a name for himself as coach of the very famous Konrad Kids, Jon and Ilsie.”
On her retirement, Jan in April 1963 shifted to Cairns. While there she met up with a Qantas pilot, a gentleman named Croft who was to become her husband. Immediately following their marriage they travelled to London where her husband took up a posting with Qantas. This resulted in them living in England from ’65 until ’66.
After this they returned home to Sydney where they were to live for the next 12 years.
During this time they became the proud parents of three healthy boys Nick, Adam and Luke.
In the years ahead, when the boys entered their teens, Nick was to become a world renowned tri-athlete competing in the European circuit and on one occasion he was named the Australian Tri-Athlete of the year. However while on the European circuit he contracted an illness that was to end his career. When he regained his health he started a coaching career which he has successfully performed in Noosa since 1996.
In 1977 while living in Brisbane Jan, with swimming still in her blood, ran a successful learn to swim school at Thornside. This she did till 1995.
Unfortunately the marriage folded and they parted the same year.
Determined to start a new life, Jan with her sons headed for Noosa.
“I had been competing in the triathlons and had come to like the lifestyle and had also made some wonderful friends; so it was for me the thing to do.”
Despite her retirement from swimming Jan still had the urge for the tough grind of competition and as a result she started to contest the Iron Man event. This event consisted of a 3.8km swim a 180km bike and a 42.6km run and for her it had everything. So much so that in 1992 competing in the masters, at age 49, she won her division of the Australian Iron Man Championship. It was, she said, “one very long day”.
Six months later she flew to Hawaii where this time she finished seventh in the local Iron Man event.
Then six years later in 1998 competing in the 55 year age group, this remarkable lady won the Fosters Australian Iron Man for her division. To cap off the year in October she again returned to Hawaii this time completing the course in fifth place – a placing which saw her take her place of honor on the podium.
In 2006 Jan competed in her last triathlon at Mooloolaba.
“Things had started to catch up and as a result I underwent knee replacement in 2008. For me the running was finished, the triathlons were over.”
Having started working at the Nack some 12 years prior, Jan then became fully involved with coaching and swimming with the masters.
During her career Jan has contested and watched the Noosa Tri on 17 occasions and as a result has strong opinions regarding last year’s event.
“The ocean swim was incredible – it was beamed via the TV all over the world – something for everyone to be proud of,” she said.
Now for Jan her day with the masters starts at 7.30am and goes through to 9.30.
“At first we had the over-50s; now we have 30/40 age groups with definite needs. We work with squads of about 30, but sometimes it reaches 40. This is often due to the interstate tourists who come along to join in the sessions. It creates a good feeling; and most important it makes our visitors feel welcome here in Noosa.”
Despite a career that started at seven, Jan’s love of the sporting life is still as strong and driven as ever. To watch this lady as she goes about her duties with the masters competitors and observe the warmth with which she is received, it becomes obvious that her coaching and contribution at all levels has indeed earned the everlasting respect and gratitude of all.
With no signs of slowing down her contribution, this extraordinary athlete is without a doubt among the sporting elite of Our People.
