Fitzroy Crossing pool opens for the season
The remote aboriginal swimming pool at Fitzroy Crossing in our state's Kimberley region recently opened for the season, and has been enjoyed by many of the local children.
Pool Manager Trevor Caporn and his wife Adele have returned to Fitzroy this year, after being the original pool managers in the town for 3 years when the pool first opened. Since then they have been involved at our remote pools in Bidyadanga and Burringurrah. Trevor and Adele return to Fitzroy after the previous manager Aaron Jacobs moved to the south-west with his young family.
Trevor says it's great to be back "We have a lot of friends here in the town and love working with the indigenous kids. We're looking forward to a fantastic season!"
Trevor has been running the Swim for Fruit program at the pool since they opened for the season and has seen a good response, despite the fact the local Aboriginal community has been in sorry time for the past 3 weeks due to the deaths of community members.
"Since opening we've had about 6 kids taking part each day from Tuesday to Friday, and we expect more children to start joining in from next week." says Trevor.
When the children arrive at the pool they usually tell Trevor that they are hungry and would like to swim to receive something to eat and Trevor is happy to oblige!
"What makes me laugh is that I will count 10 laps and then ask them how many they swam and they will say "about 50 Mr Trevor!" They all love eating their fruit, especially the slinky apples. If they didn’t have the Swim for Fruit they would be humbugging for money and eating fried food from the shop, so I think the little bit that we do must help in the long run."
Trevor told the children that the first two to swim 100 laps would receive a special prize of a Swim and Survive pack, and two girls were quick to get in the water and achieve the goal!
Swim for Fruit is proudly supported by Go For 2 and 5.
To find out more about our Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool program click the link below.
