About Nadine

Biography

Nadine is a writer, a speaker, a teacher. But before all this, she made her mark as an Olympic swimmer.

Nadine began swimming at the age of seven and by the time she was eight, she knew she wanted to represent Australia. When she was 15, Nadine overcame Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, only to have her dream of an Olympic berth in Barcelona shattered by a broken neck. She fought back to finally realise her dream, swimming at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the 200m Breaststroke where she came 6th in the final in a personal best time. She went on to captain the Australian Swimming Team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and 1999 Pan Pacific Championships.

On retiring from competitive swimming, Nadine had to completely re-define her life. She struggled with depression for five years while studying for dual teaching qualifications (Primary and Secondary English) and working in PR & Marketing. In 2004 she began teaching English at high school and it was then that she began seriously shaping the memoir she had started in 1999 as part of her university degree.

Since Nadine's story captured the attention of the media in 1996 she has enjoyed success as a motivational speaker on both the corporate and schools circuits. She says that one of her greatest joys is "connecting with an audience and feeling that my experiences, in some small way, might help inspire others."

Nadine lives in Newcastle, NSW with her husband and one year old son. She spends her days cleaning up after her little boy, trying to find time to work on her next writing project and looking for ways to help others realise their potential.

Fast Facts

Swimming

1995	- World University Games, Fukuoka: Silver 200 B/S; Bronze 100 B/S - Australian Universities Athlete of the Year
1996	- 26th Olympic Games, Atlanta: 6th 200 B/S - NSW Record - Australian Swimming "Rookie of the Year"
1997	- Pan Pacific Championships, Fukuoka: 7 events, 6 Finals, 2 Bronze
1998	- World Championships, Perth: 3 Finals (400 I/M, 200 B/S, 800 F/S) - Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur: Swimming Team Captain, 3 Finals (400 I/M, 200 B/S, 800 F/S)
1999	- Pan Pacific Championships, Sydney: Swimming Team Captain
2000	- Awarded The Australian Sports Medal

Education

1993	- Completed HSC at The Forest High School
2002	- Graduated Macquarie University, BA DipEd (Primary & Secondary English)
2005	- Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods (Education)

Work

1994-2002	- Swimming teacher/coaching, Swim clinics
1996-2001	- Promotions for various corporate and private organisations such as Telstra, AOC and Nad's as well as various charities such as Street Smart and YOTS.
1996-2001	- Media experience (TV, Radio and Print) appearing in programs such as Today Tonight, Sports Sunday, Australian Story, and GMA.
1996-2007	- Public Speaking on the corporate circuit for clients such as AMP (MC at the national conference), Wespac, Telstra and Australia Post. - Over 100 motivational speeches in schools across NSW and SA.
2001-2003	- PR & Marketing at Macquarie University, developing and coordinating all aspects of a relationship marketing program that came to be considered an industry leader in the marketing of higher education to school leavers.
2002-2003	- Coordinating the development and trial of BioSigns - an environmental education program for schools.
2004	- Teaching: Appointed permanent full time (English) at Cheltenham Girls High School (CGHS) teaching Yr 7 - 12
2005	- Deputy Head of English at CGHS
2006	- Deputy Head and Acting Head of English at CGHS, managing staff of 12 as well as supervising and mentoring New Scheme teachers.
2007	- Writing, tutoring and casual teaching in Newcastle, NSW
2007-2008	- Teaching at Australian Technical College - Hunter (HSC English)
2008-2009	- Publishing memoir, writing next novel, motivational speaking, being mum.

Other

1997-1998	- Member of the Australian Swimmers Commission
1997-2004	- Macquarie University Sports Association Executive Board and University Blues Committee.