Hedland Swim for Fruit winds up for the year

The 2021 Hedland Swim for Fruit program has had its final session for the season at South Hedland Aquatic Centre to cap off a successful year!

The Go for 2&5 Regional and Remote Aboriginal Communities Swimming Program (Swim for Fruit) is an after school and weekend lap swimming program that expands on the school-based Swim and Survive lessons in regional and remote Aboriginal communities. The program is sponsored in Hedland by BHP and Healthway.

The program promotes physical activity and healthy eating habits by encouraging children to swim a particular number of laps to earn themselves a healthy afternoon tea of fresh fruit following the session. Tallies are kept of participants’ laps at subsequent sessions, with the chance to earn additional prizes throughout the season.

The Hedland program finished up for the year on Tuesday 23rd November, with a team of trainer assistants from Royal Life Saving WA’s Talent Pool program helping to supervise the session. Thanks to Jinnali BinSaad, Bethany Denney, Faith Joseph, Kate Sheehey, Clay Thompson and Zach Joseph for their help this season!

Program trainer and Royal Life Saving WA Pilbara Development Officer, Lauren Thompson, was impressed by the kids’ efforts this year. “The improvement in these kids’ swimming capabilities has been tremendous, especially their dedication to technique,” she said. “I have been blown away with their perseverance and their personal drive to make sure they are getting it right.”

The expansion of the Swim and Survive program aims to create direct links to increase participation in aquatic sports such as water polo, competitive swimming, aqua aerobics and pool lifesaving, which has provided Hedland children with the confidence to partake in the Community Rescue Junior Lifeguard Club program.

Swim for Fruit will return in Hedland in 2022 with the commencement of the new school year. We look forward to more aquatic fun, fitness and fruity smiles when the program returns!