HENRI Jeanjean has been doing aquarobics for 26 years.
The Frenchman is a great conversationalist, has a smooth and melodic accent, and greets friends with two kisses on the cheek.
Henri was one of the first aquarobics participants at Wollongong University when the classes started in 1999.
“I used to go regularly to do some rehab in hospital a few times a year following spinal injuries, and one day I was told by a physio that the university was starting aquagym classes and that I should try them as I was working at uni,” he says.
“Since I joined these classes I never had to return to hospital for rehab sejourns.”
Henri, 78, retired as a senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong more than a decade ago.
In the 60s he used to travel around from his native France, and preferred hitch-hiking as a way of getting from A to B.
“I came to Australia because I could go on a five-week cruise for 10-pounds. I am a 10-pound frog!” he says.
“My intention was to stay the two years we had to stay in the country – otherwise we had to pay back the price of the ticket to the government – and then go back to Europe via the hippy Far East trek, via India, Kathmandu etcetera but after more than 50 years I am still in Australia.”
Aquarobics with Dawn, UniActive, University of Wollongong, Tuesdays 7:45am
Yoga teacher, skydiver, martial artist and journalist. Yoga keeps her centred and reinforces her core belief that the greatest gift to each of us is ourselves. When Dawn isn’t teaching yoga, she works as a skydive camerawoman, grapples with her mates at Gracie Barra Shellharbour, and does media and promotions for stuff she loves.
Thanks for sharing, Dawn. Henri is certainly one of our pool celebs! His story is certainly a fascinating one. He greets me each morning with a big smile, perhaps a smirk … as I am always late! I live in Murphys Avenue…