With summer almost upon us, public campaigns are promoting the value of learning to swim.
Murray Irrigation’s annual learn to swim program was launched yesterday.
Murray Irrigation’s most significant community funding initiative, this year it is expected to involve 1200 participants from 18 schools and swimming clubs.
Sobering statistics from Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) tell us 549 children have died from drowning in Australia in the past 20 years, highlight that learning to swim has never been more important.
RLSA says there were a record number of drowning deaths in Australia in the past year, with statistics showing 38 per cent of drowning deaths occur between December and February.
Murray Irrigation’s program helps to ensure more young people are being taught water safety, which not only allows them to have fun, but can also save lives.
Murray Irrigation has been sponsoring local children from across the region to learn water safety and the importance of learning to swim, as well as rescue and survival techniques, for nearly 20 years.
It first supported the program in 2003, helping to offset the cost of travel, pool entry, equipment, as well as instructor and lifeguard wages, which all combine to make participation more accessible to all local children.
Over these years it has been estimated more than 20,000 children have been involved, at an investment by MIL approaching quarter of a million dollars.
The 2022/23 program was launched at the Berrigan War Memorial Swimming Pool with students from Berrigan Primary School enjoying the learn to swim lessons.
The launch was supported by Berrigan Shire Council.
“This collaboration with Murray Irrigation is a very important initiative and together with our primary schools across the region we can ensure children have the opportunity to learn to swim,” Berrigan Shire Council CEO Karina Ewer said ”.
Murray Irrigation CEO Ron McCalman said the company was committed to the community and the safety of children around water.
Mr McCalman emphasised that learning to swim is an important and necessary skill for our children and cost should not be a barrier.
“As Australia’s largest private environmental and irrigation water delivery company, we see it as a duty of care to ensure children are safe around water,” he said.
“Living in an area where rivers, dams and irrigation channels are part of our everyday lives, water safety is a necessary skill for our children, which is why we provide the annual sponsorship for schools and swimming clubs in our area of operation.”
Murray Irrigation contributes $10 for every child in the region who completes the Learn to Swim program.