Hui Tong is the renowned head coach of Australian Diving at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Diving Unit based at Chandler in Brisbane. He has recognised the benefits of 'respite' by formalising a 2008 'rest and recuperation' plan for the diving coaches that he mentors.
Well-Being Australia provides two respite facilities for AIS athletes and coaches; Basil Sellers Tweed at Casuarina, on the far north coast of NSW and Basil Sellers House in Moruya, on the south coast.
Chairman Mark Tronson, a Baptist minister who has been serving the Australian cricket fraternity as their chaplain for 23 years, co-ordinates these respite facilities and has the AIS Diving coaches booked into the Basil Sellers Tweed the third week of December.
Mark and Delma Tronson's respite ministry includes visiting the various AIS sport units based in south east Queensland. This includes the Diving unit, and while there, they were able to extend a warm and happy welcome to Basil Sellers Tweed for all the team members.
"Hui Tong is now a regular, who values the respite facility and has his coaches booked to come on retreat before the Beijing Olympic year commences," M V Tronson explained.
"To arrange his schedule, he contacted me last week to lock in particular respite periods in the diary for next year. This illustrates the extent of his coaching prowess, that he ensures his coaches are at their peak mentally as well as physically. His international acclaim has been attained because he knows how to cover all bases in training his team," M V Tronson mused.
Prior to this Australian contract, Hui Tong was coaching the Canadian diving team for five years and prior to that both he and his wife, Xing, were the best there were at Olympic and World Championship levels. There is even a bronze statue of Hui Tong in his home city in China.
"A couple of years ago now, Xing alerted me that Hui was doing too much, and like all wives and mothers, she was concerned. As a result of this conversation, they both took respite at Basil Sellers Tweed," M V Tronson explained.
Part of the pastoral style of ministry that Mark and his wife Delma provide is a personal interaction with the sports-people who are on retreat. Accordingly, Delma engaged in fun activities with their children, while Mark provided insights from the Scriptures in relation to their lives. This was a first for Hui and Xing Tong.
"We have since developed a friendly family relationship with them," MV Tronson said.
"Hui Tong is a terrific publicity officer for 'Basil Sellers Tweed'. I have subsequently heard coaches from other AIS sport units gladly recounting to me how Hui Tong has enthusiastically promoted the many benefits of our program," M V Tronson explained.