New managers making their mark at Kalumburu remote pool

Royal Life Saving WA is excited to see the newest of our remote Aboriginal swimming pools, at Kalumburu, proving extremely popular with local families as it opened for the new season last week. Kalumburu is an Aboriginal community of just over 400 people in the far north Kimberley region of our state.

In only its second season open, the pool has brand new managers this year, with Ryan Ingley and Samantha Dalton taking on the role. Ryan is no stranger to remote Aboriginal community life, running The Shed in Jigalong for the past few years, a joint project between BHP and Royal Life Saving WA, teaching practical work skills to residents in the town.

Samantha has recently completed several aquatic qualifications and will work to teach swimming lessons for the local children and train up others in the Kalumburu community in Bronze Medallion and aquatic rescue skills.

After arriving in the community last week, and opening the pool for the season on Saturday, Ryan and Samantha are already proving extremely popular with the locals - Sam has even earned the nickname “Dalts” which she loves. 

“We are loving it here! I taught some locals their Bronze Medallion on Monday and Tuesday, my first time out as a community trainer. One of the participants is now our first local working at the pool!”

Ryan is making friends the best way he knows how, cooking lunch for the Bronze Medallion participants and having a whole lot of fun with the local children.

We wish Ryan and Sam all the very best as they continue to develop great relationships with the Kalumburu families, and we forward to seeing all of the amazing work they do over the coming months, as they develop the local community members’ swimming and lifesaving skills!

You can read more about our Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool Project at the link below.