For 20 years Suzanne Bergersen has been heavily involved with swimming and it all began as a mum watching her children in the pool.

"As all people, we get involved in swimming because our children swim and some of us are still around after they're well and truly finished," she said.

"I don't know who nominated me, but I feel very undeserving if anything - so many people volunteer their time."

Her involvement with swimming started in 1990, but it didn't begin in the pool.

"My children were swimming to a national level and then I got involved in officiating and became a referee," she said.

"And I sort of travelled around Australia officiating international championships and overseas at the Oceania Championships.

"My highlight of officiating was the fact I actually officiated at the Olympic Games in Sydney."

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Outside of officiating she became involved in governance and was a board member of Swimming NSW.

Her efforts were also recognised by Swimming NSW by granting her life membership.

"I've done a lot of things because I was a school teacher and as a school teacher you tend to be able to deliver information fairly easily to people."

"Not that I've reached as high as they've reached - but I was a sort of a mentor to the younger officials.

"Swimming has given me another side - it built my confidence up and I actually became a principal at a high school so swimming helped my career."

Ms Bergersen continues her work with swimming on the South Coast, running and helping out with swimming carnivals.