Maree will attend the next round of judging on Wednesday, August 14 where finalists will be announced.
It all started after being dobbed in by her friend and customer, Carol West.
"I've known Carol for many, many years. She’s an old friend really – a friend and a mentor," Maree said.
"She's seen me go through starting the business and she's seen all the ups and downs I’ve been through with my business.
"She can see that the business and I are growing and we're getting a good name for ourselves."
And Carol says she’s not the one to take the credit, instead saying she just helped Maree realise what she had all along.
"I watched her emerge from her dream which she had a lot of doubts about. She took every step possible, setting up the pool in her backyard with Paul, her handyman extraordinaire," Carol said.
"I actually had swimming lessons with Maree three years ago as a hockey player. I could already swim but she helped me refine my strokes.
"You get to feel so welcome – it’s a comfortable place to be."
But Maree said it isn't just herself who deserves an award but her staff too, who she holds in high regard.
"I believe in educating my staff and giving them lots of opportunities to move forward," Maree said.
"There’s a bloody lot more to it that just being a swimming instructor. They know customer service and they’re very good swim instructors.
"You have to tap into different kids and adults with different things going on in their lives."
Maree said teaching small groups in a boutique business structure, as well as expanding on her staff's professional development is why she attracts business from around northern Victoria.
"We did a child's first aid over the school holidays and we brought an ambulance along to show the kids," she said.
"One lady travelled an hour and 15 minutes each way every week with her two kids for swim lessons.
"A parent said the other day that not only has the swim school taught her kids a lot, but it has taught her lots through child-parent lessons."
Maree says this is vital to her swimming lessons – teaching kids to swim on their own.
"The parents won’t always be there to catch them. I don’t believe in floaties or parents catching their kids," she said.
Winners will be announced on October 11 at Flemington Racecourse at a gala presentation dinner.
