Carnival puts focus on water safety

More than 80 children from Pilbara schools attended the Spirit Carnival at the South Hedland Aquatic Centre last week, hosted by the Royal Life Saving Society WA, Swimming WA and the YMCA.

Children from Tom Price, Marble Bar, Yandeyarra, South Hedland and Port Hedland travelled a collective 700km to attend the carnival and to show their swimming and lifesaving skills.

The carnival involved swimming races, traditional boat races and lifesaving activities, with the children also treated to a barbecue lunch and overnight accommodation.

Royal Life Saving Society WA swimming and water safety education senior manager Trent Hotchkin said the children involved in the carnival would make a real difference in the future of their communities.

“Our desire is to see these children lead a generational change in their communities, learning skills to become the future lifesavers in remote and regional WA,” he said.

“We want to give these children the opportunity to not only learn skills to keep themselves safe while in, on and around water, but also to equip them to encourage all community members to develop lifesaving swimming skills.”

Swimming WA chief executive Darren Beazley said community programs like the Spirit Carnival were integral to providing every West Australian with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of swimming.

“Swimming is an activity that brings communities together and can be enjoyed at all stages of life,” he said.

“It’s genuinely thrilling to see the enjoyment that events like this bring to kids in the most remote areas of our State. We want to ensure accessible events are available to children, catering to a range of skills, no matter where they live.”

In the past five years, five children aged 5-14 have drowned in WA.

Already since July this year, two regional children aged between 5 and 14 have lost their lives to drowning.