Kalumburu Chairperson Clement Maraltadj with Warmun Pool Manager Jamie O'Donohue, Derick Charles, RLSSWA's Greg Tate, Kimberley French and Margaret Clement

Kalumburu community excited about new pool

Kalumburu is the most northern settlement in Western Australia, located on the banks of the King Edward River in the far north of the Kimberley region. The community of Kalumburu is populated by approximately 400 people, mainly of aboriginal decent.

In the recent budget the State Labor Government allocated $7 million for the building of a swimming pool in the community, much like those run under Royal Life Saving Society WA’s Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools (RASP) program.

This week members of the Kalumburu community, including Clement Maraltadj (Kalumburu Chairperson), Derick Charles, Kimberley French and Margaret Clement, travelled to Warmun, thanks to funding provided by the Department of Communities Housing Authority, where they visited the existing Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool in that community.

They were met by Pool Manager Jamie O’Donohue and Royal Life Saving General Manager Community Relations, Greg Tate, to see the facilities available at the pool, hear of the pool’s successes in the local community, and view a Year 5 / 6 class from the local school taking part in pool games and swimming practice.

Jamie O’Donohue says the response of the Kalumburu community members was very positive. “It was great for them to see first-hand what they will be getting in Kalumburu. All of the representatives were not surprisingly very impressed with the RASP facility and they are very much looking forward to the building of their new facility.”

A further $7 million was included in the State Budget for a swimming pool in the Aboriginal community of Balgo, and Greg Tate will next week travel to that community to discuss the new facility planned for their community.