Michael Mullens nominated for Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year award

He’s that familiar face you see at the Port Macquarie Olympic Pool early every morning or late every afternoon throughout late winter, spring and summer.

For nearly 40 years he has been pacing up and down the pool, stopwatch in hand, barking instructions to both his senior and junior swimming squads.

But without his hard work, swimmers such as James Magnussen wouldn’t have reached any dizzying heights.

It’s why he’s been nominated by members of the swimming club as an entrant into the 2018 Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year awards.

Mullens would prefer to talk about up-and-coming swimmers such as Tom Berryman, Bianca Jamison and Mathilda King rather than himself.

He became a coach back in 1982 purely because it ran in the family – his mother and father were both swimmers and the family were sports-mad.

“I didn’t want an office job, I wanted to be outside,” he said.

“I came through the pool game, went building for a few years and got back into the pool game again.

“I question myself why I do it, but I’ve been doing it for 30-something years; four o’clock starts in the morning, night time finishes.”

Most importantly, Mullens doesn’t want any accolades for his hard work – he just does it because it’s a passion.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“I do get satisfaction, you get some tears in your eyes too when things go on, but it’s the good things that make it worthwhile otherwise I wouldn’t get up in the morning,” he said.

“When you see the kids with big smiles on their faces and they go places whether it’s trips overseas or state teams, you know you’ve made an impression on them.”

Mullens takes pride in seeing the same faces turn up to the pool every day for three-quarters of the year.

“The kids could be out wandering the streets, but they’re here and they’re working hard,” he said.

“I always find kids that can do as you tell them … discipline starts at home where they’ve got respect for people and parents.

“Over those years there’d be thousands of kids that have gone through my hands, I’d just like to know I’ve played my part in turning them into good people.”

With son Pat a member of Port Macquarie’s senior swimming squad, Mullens still has a few more laps walking up and down the pool in front of him.

“Whenever I think I can keep doing it I’ll keep doing it and when I’ve had enough I’ll hang up the stopwatch,” he said.

“I think it’s the best job in the world.”

The Community Sports Dad of the Year winner will be provided with a $5,000 Rebel Sports voucher to donate to his sporting club of choice for some new gear or sporting equipment.

To nominate a dad simply go to sportsdads.com.au/community and explain in 100 words or less why they think their chosen sports dad should be crowned the Philips Community Sports Dad of the Year.

Nominations are now open, so don't forget to log on to sportsdads.com.au/community.

Nominations and entries end on Sunday August 19, and the winner will be announced before Father's Day, Sunday September 2.