Winners of the 2016 Multicultural Recognition Awards celebrate their success. Materno Biwot, water safety advocate, is front row far right.

Congratulations to Multicultural Awards winners

Royal Life Saving Society WA would like to congratulate all those who were recognized as part of this week’s 2016 WA Multicultural Recognition Awards.

The awards were handed out by Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan as part of Harmony Week, recognizing 27 inspirational West Australian individuals and organisations who’ve made an outstanding contribution towards multiculturalism in our state.

One of those who received an award was Materno Biwot, whose 13 year old son Jenon drowned after getting caught in a rip at Claytons Beach in Mindarie two years ago.

Since then Mr Biwot has been very active as an advocate for water safety in his local area, and within the African community. 

Mr Biwot’s family, who are from South Sudan, came to Australia 5 years ago. He says his son didn’t have swimming skills because their home country was landlocked and it wasn’t something people considered as an essential life skill.

We congratulate Mr Biwot for his efforts in encouraging members of his community to learn water safety skills, to reduce the chance of other families suffering the same heartbreak his family has experienced.

Royal Life Saving Society WA is determined to ensure all Australians have an opportunity to learn vital Swim and Survive skills, and is making inroads in multicultural communities like Mr Biwot’s through our Access and Equity program.

Find out more about our Access and Equity program here.