Ausbil CEO swims English Channel for Indigenous youth

Ausbil’s Sydney-based chief executive, Ross Youngman, has completed the 33 kilometre swim across the English Channel, to raise money for scholarships for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

At 60 years old, Youngman completed the solo swim in 14 hours and 44 minutes and was among the 10 oldest people to complete it.

He previously completed the swim in a three-person relay team almost 10 years ago.

“I enjoy the challenge. I was swimming from a very early age, in the freezing winter pools of Launceston.  I retired from competitive swimming at about 10, but continued to enjoy the relaxation and exercise – swimming is a great way to clear the head and de-stress.”

Training for the past three years, swimming 30-35 kilometres per week, this was Youngman’s third attempt to get to Dover to tackle the crossing due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Youngman, originally from Launceston, Tasmania, undertook the marathon swim for a good cause, raising funds for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).

“I am a firm believer in the power of education and personally benefitted from financial assistance and scholarships at various stages of my own education. Unfortunately, many others have not been so fortunate. The work that AIEF is doing is an inspiration and they have made a huge difference to the education of over 1,000 Indigenous children.”

Youngman had so far raised $128,000 of his $200,000 goal to support AIEF to provide scholarship opportunities for Australia’s young Indigenous people.