Auckland
February 3, 2012

Two “old buggers” are today (subs: Friday, 3 February 2012) calmly swimming for six hours back and forth from Takapuna Beach to a buoy. The harbour is easy open water training for Aucklanders John Shackleton, 57, and Alastair Hulbert, 42, who next month tackle one of the toughest challenges on the planet – Cook Strait.

British-born Shackleton says the swim marathon is his toughest physical and mental challenge – despite studying sports psychology, coaching Olympic athletes, holding British and New Zealand masters records for sprint events in pools, and being a top international motivational speaker and author. But age is not a problem, and he doesn’t believe in luck.

“While more than 3000 people have climbed Mt Everest, about 1000 have swum the English Channel, and over 500 have been into space, only 80 have successfully conquered Cook Strait without a wetsuit.”
The cold, unforgiving stretch of water separating the North and South Islands is described by Wikipedia as “some of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world”.
Swimming its 26km “is going to take seven or eight hours on your own in a large amount of very cold water”.
“Water temperature can drop to 13 degrees Celsius, so you have to swim fast enough to not get cold, and slow enough to not get exhausted. And one in six attempts has a shark visit.”
The tidal window for the swim is March 27 to April 3, with weather being the decider. “We could be as fit as we want, and we’re up there now, but weather on the day will determine whether we step into the water.”
It will also determine whether they swim North to South Island or vice versa.
“You actually swim east to west – the two islands are side by side.”

It’s been a “massive commitment” for Shackleton, swimming up to 50km a week with the aim to conquer Cook Strait as the oldest swimmer. Then two weeks ago 60-year-old US swimmer Tom Hecker snatched it in 10 hours 36 minutes.
“It was a bit upsetting because I wanted the record, but it’s about personal growth not holding a record, and achieving way, way outside my comfort zone.
“I’m a motivational speaker. My entire job is standing on stage telling people how to turn failure into success. It’s a good example of me swallowing my own medicine.”

Turners and Growers and Jones Lang LaSalle are sponsoring support for the swim which costs $8000 for a launch and inflatable rescue boats. The swimmers will stop every half hour for 30 seconds to drink and eat while not touching anyone or anything. Shackleton is partial to honey sandwiches – it takes away the taste of salt – and Happy Valley Honey has come on board with honey and bee pollen granules which he says have increased his energy levels.

In conjunction with the swim, Shackleton is running a competition with all proceeds going to the Autism Foundation. His six-year-old has a mild form of autism; “he writes the most amazing poetry but can’t clean his teeth”.
Visit www.bigswim.co.nz and pay $10 to guess the time Shackleton will take to swim Cook Strait. The winner will enjoy two return flights to Fiji and five nights’ accommodation at Mana Island Resort, sponsored by Air New Zealand. The runner up receives a phone from Noel Leeming. Shackleton’s blog is straittalking.blogspot.com.

John Shackleton: 021 366 669 / john@johnshack.com

Sue Pairaudeau
Online editor
Media PA

07 8252883
021 030 1851
sue.pairaudeau@gmail.com

Please join us on Waitangi day (Monday 6th of Feb) at the Manukau Live steamers.

We will be there between 11am and 3pm with a stand, information on John Shackleton’s Big Swim across the Cook Strait at the end of March.

Enter the competition and guess how long John will be in the water for and be in to win a 5 day trip to Fiji for 2!

By entering the competition you’ll be supporting us.
Read more on our big swim page

Click here for directions to the manukau live steamers.

To read how John prepares himself for his ultimate challenge, visit his BIG SWIM website

Happy new year from us all! Trusting that you made the most of the holiday and enjoyed those fleeting moments when everything goes well and everybody is happy… These don’t last long so we do have to treasure them: they are the times we can remember and focus on when things don’t go so well and everyone is not so happy!

You may have noticed that you made some changes to the website, and soon our newsletter will be in a new format. Please bear with us over the next few weeks as we’re finalising all the techy stuff! We’ve also planned some great events this term, starting with a competition to win 5 nights for 2 in Fiji… Read on!

BIG SWIM COMPETITION -Win 5 nights for 2 in Fiji!

John Shackleton will swim the Cook Strait in March, but what will his time be? Support John and the Children’s Autism Foundation by entering our competition. Click here for more info…
We will have more information about the competition at the Manukau Steamers event on Monday. Hoping to see you there!

SEXSMART FOR TEENAGERS

Following the successful workshop run in December, Annette Milligan is back! A nurse who runs a sexual health clinic in Nelson Annette is experienced in teaching sexuality education in secondary schools and to disability groups, Annette has a pragmatic approach to the work she does. In 2000, she was a founding director of the company Health Click, who produces sexuality education resources. As part of her talk, Annette will be demonstrating 2 resources available to parents to help them in the sexual education of their children on the spectrum.

The workshop covers:

· Sexuality education: what is it and what should be covered?
· How to talk about sex with teenagers on the spectrum
· Demonstration of the Me range of resources – a series of CD Rom and books to teach young people with intellectual disabilities about safety in relationships, hygiene, getting help and other related topics
· Demonstration of the SexSmart resource – a CD Rom already available in 20% of secondary schools ion NZ, covering relationships, sexuality, contraception and sexual health.

The CD Roms will be available for sale on the day (cash and cheque only please) and our Goldminds Resource library also holds copies.

We understand that you may have questions that are particular to your child so we have arranged for a special clinic to run after the workshop, in 15 minute appointment slots. Places are limited so registration is essential.

WHERE: Windsor Park Baptist Church, Mairangi Bay, North Shore
WHEN: Wednesday 15th February – 9.45am to 11am (workshop)
REGISTER: events@autism.org.nz – code: SS15/02, please specify if you would like a clinic appointment

Clinic appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis: 11.15am; 11.30am; 11.45am; 12pm; 12.15pm; 12.30pm

UNDERTSANDING AUTISM WORKSHOP

Presented by Elisa Slaat, this workshop covers:

· Diagnosis: What is ASD/ Asperger’s, where from here?
· Moving forward; coping strategies and improving family wellbeing
· Introduction to “Reach out”, family support service and finding appropriate services in the Auckland region

WHERE: our office – 70 Khyber Pass, Grafton
WHEN: Monday 20th February – 10am to 12.30pm
REGISTER: events@autism.org.nz – code: UA20/02

SKILLS TRHOUGH PLAY

Elisa is starting Skills Through Play again this month. This is a programme for families with children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old.

The sessions focus on:

· Understanding child development
· Types of play and the importance of play
· How to engage your child in play
· What toys and resources to use

WHERE: Grey Lynn Community Centre
WHEN: Tuesday 21st February – 12.30pm to 2.30pm
REGISTER: elisa@autism.org.nz

As soon as we have found a suitable venue in the Manukau/Wiri area, Elisa will be running monthly sessions there as well.

LIBRARY

The library will be open again as from next Friday, 10 February. The library will be open on Fridays from 10am to 12pm.

The Trusts Charitable Foundation

Mt Wellington Foundation Ltd

Sir John Logan Campbell Residual Estate

United Way

Pub Charity

Four Winds Foundation

Auckland City Council