Swimming for fruit and fun in Warburton

Dozens of children in the remote community of Warburton recently took part in the Go for 2&5 Swim for Fruit program, earning a healthy treat for swimming laps at the local pool. The program ran during Term Four 2020 and Term One 2021 and proved extremely popular!

The Go For 2&5 Swim for Fruit program is an extension of Royal Life Saving WA’s Swim and Survive program within regional and remote Aboriginal communities. It’s an important part of our work to address concerning drowning statistics among Aboriginal Australians – children in particular – through increased swimming and water safety education in regional and remote areas of the state. Data shows that Aboriginal children are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal drowning incident than non-Aboriginal children in WA.

Warburton Pool Manager Steve Girschik says the Swim for Fruit activities in the town have been happening between 2:30 - 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “On Wednesday afternoons the Warburton store (Mily Store) is not open and the kids are particularly hungry, but only children who have been to school can come to the pool, so the fruit from the Swim for Fruit program is an extra reward for those kids who have gone to school.”

“On Saturdays anyone can use the pool so the kids who have perhaps missed out on fruit on Wednesday afternoon have the chance to swim for fruit on the Saturday. On average there are between 20-30 primary school-aged children participating in Swim for Fruit on Wednesdays and between 25-40 on Saturdays.”

The Swim for Fruit fun enjoyed by the Warburton children included swimming laps, diving for sinkers and playing a modified version of water polo. The activities were run by the two Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku youth workers; Ethan Smith and Daniel Weatherhead. Royal Life Saving WA is thankful for their assistance in running this important program for the children of the community.

Swim for Fruit is supported in Western Australia by Healthway. In addition to improving swimming and water safety skills, the program also aims to promote healthy lifestyle habits within the community, encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.

You can read more at the link below.