Kirstin Nicholson, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Local children have taken part in the annual VICSWIM learn to swim and water safety program during the January school holidays.

The inland open water program was offered in the Gunbower Creek at Apex Park with local families embracing the program aimed at 4 to 12-year-old children, giving them the opportunity to become familiar and comfortable with a creek environment.

Teacher in charge at Cohuna, Mikayla Gibson, said, “It’s more important than ever for kids to develop their open water safety skills. 

“With so many pools closing across the regions, kids will be using creeks, rivers, lakes and dams as their local swimming holes. If we don’t teach them how to be safe in these situations, it is highly likely that we see drowning rates increase in the future.”

According to Aquatics and Recreation Victoria CEO, Kathy Parton, the 2022 VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program had a record number of children registered across Victoria following a year of not having access to lessons due to the pandemic.

Ms Parton says the pandemic has devastated the Victorian aquatics and learn to swim industry, with research confirming that over 20% of all learn to swim teachers have left the industry, a figure that is potentially greater in rural and regional areas. 

“For the first time ever, we have not been able to recruit enough swim teachers to fully staff this year’s program,” Ms Parton said. The shortage has impacted classes across the state, with many having to be cancelled. 

Cohuna families, though, were fortunate to have classes go ahead.

Mel Kirchhofer enrolled her three boys in the program. New residents in the area, she said that while the boys have played in the creek when holidaying here in the past, this was a great opportunity for them to become familiar and comfortable with the creek now that it will become a regular activity.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 27 January 2022.