Holiday fun at Jigalong Remote Pool
Lots of fun was had over the busy summer school holiday period at our Jigalong Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool. With a wide range of programs and activities on offer, the pool was certainly the place to meet!
Our Pool Managers Ray Martin and Deb Gill got into the Christmas spirit, visiting the local community on Christmas morning, handing out lollies to the kids, and then on New Years Even they hosted a Blue Light Disco which saw around 60 children attend. They were treated to glow sticks, sparklers, slushies, popcorn and a sausage sizzle.
From early January Jigalong had quite a few community organisations visitto interact with the kids over the holidays. The program included interaction and fun with Fair Game, WA Police Cadets, PAMS (Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service) and Ngurra Kujungka.
Starting with a healthy breakfast and ball games at the court including basketball, football and softball all prior to the fun, games and activities at the pool. Pool Manager Deb Gill says the pool-based activities were a highlight “’Fun at the pool’ drew some big crowds averaging 100 attendees. It was great to see quite a few families enjoying the fun and activities. There was plenty to do with the pool inflatable, balls, water polo, water volleyball, tyre tubes and our new frisbees to play with.”
The pool was the perfect place for the kids to eat with pancakes being a highlight along with sausage sizzles, hamburgers and fruit being offered during the afternoons. The visiting community organisations also challenged themselves by getting involved in two regular early morning programs including aqua aerobics and boot camp.
Not all the fun happened at the pool though, with Cyclone Blake filling up the local water holes. Our Pool Managers joined a convoy of four cars carrying nine adults and 17 children out to a local water hole for some fun, via a stop at part of the rabbit proof fence.
Now that school is underway, we look forward to seeing the Jigalong children continue to enjoy time at the pool after school, getting involved in our Swim for Fruit and Swim and Survive programs.
You can read more about our Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool Project, supported by the Department of Communities and BHP, at the link below.
