Above: World champion coach and athlete Brei Meek with Beaconhills kayaking students Elizabeth RohdeHandasyde and Siobhan Wend.BALANCE, patience and teamwork — it’s all in a day’s kayaking for students at Beaconhills College.
Year nine students at the Pakenham college are learning their skills on the water at the Lakeside at Pakenham estate.
Under the guidance of world champion coach and athlete Brei Meek, sister of local Olympian Chantal Meek and marathon champ Chad Meek, students are introduced to the technique of kayaking over twohour sessions in groups.
Head of year nine Tim Spencer said participation and teamwork were all part of the challenges involved.
“Students discovered balance was essential and that kayaking was not as easy as it first looked, with most getting wet before mastering the technique.”
Brei is running the program with help from Peter Gargulio, ranked fifth in the world in men’s open kayaking and former Beaconhills kayak team captain Casey Stone.
Brei is the coach of the Beaconhills kayak team which is currently recognised as Australia’s leading school team, having had many successes over the years.
