For 16 years, Herold's Bay resident, Rina (70), has been taking her early morning swim and she refuses to be waylaid by anything, even bad weather. "As jy daai self dissipline wil hou dan doen jy dit!" ("If you want to maintain self discipline then you just do it!") she exclaims.
A fervent advocate of exercise and movement (Rina has a Human Movement Science degree from Tuks), she says "if you don't use it you will lose it!"
The early morning exercise started as part of Rina's 'quiet times'. This included a walk to Voëlklip, where one of her sons had previously erected a cross which can still be seen, and a swim out to sea with the current. Rina says she has always been active, but took up swimming after ha-ving a hip replacement 20 years ago, just before moving to George.
She feels that "in the gym you can overdo it" whereas if you get tired whilst swimming, you automatically stop. Her initial hip surgery, she believes, was due to the four cardio classes she used to do a day. However, more recently, the sea swim has had to be replaced with three laps around the tidal pool, following hip reconstruction surgery last year.
Her day usually starts at 05:00, when she reads while waiting for first light. In the summer months she swims every day, but in winter she skips Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as these are her days to minister to people in the workplace.
When asked about her most memorable swimming excursions, the topic of dolphins immediately comes up. She has had numerous opportunities to swim with these gentle creatures and recounts how they always swim towards her, showing off their young. "If you put your face in the water, you see them looking at you!"
Part of Rina's daily routine includes writing a thought for the day behind the 'whale board' by the tidal pool, something she says was inspired by her mom (96), who resides in a local retirement home. Talking about her own home at Herold's Bay, Rina tells how she had camped there for 16 years with her husband before retiring in the picturesque seaside resort. "I am incredibly privileged to be a member of the community."
Rina enjoys making shell cards and decorating tables at functions and her daughter, Suzelle swears her mom has the knack of making something from nothing. When her mom is out of the room, she adds that Rina is one of the most generous and helpful people that she knows and that in her opinion, "gaan sy reguit hemel toe!" ("She is going straight to heaven!") But not before a last splash in the ocean!
Avid swimmer Rina Collins (centre) with her loving daughter, Suzelle (left), and granddaughter, Gael. Photo: LeeAnne Pratt
ARTICLE: LEEANNE PRATT, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
