Swimming instructor Diana Papenfus with her VacSwim students in Warburton
Warburton kids delight at VacSwim lessons
Thanks to efforts by the Department of Education and Royal Life Saving WA to find a suitable swimming instructor, January’s VacSwim program was able to reach one of WA’s most remote communities – the small town of Warburton, situated in the Gibson Desert.
Steve Girschik, who has been the Warburton Swimming Pool Manager for many years, knows the difficulty of finding swimming teachers for the remote location. “The lessons were a huge success, these being the third year in a row at Warburton pool. I can honestly say that none of the VacSwim programs in Warburton could have taken place without the assistance of Royal Life Saving WA.
“One thing I have really admired about the teachers who’ve come out here for VacSwim is their ability to adapt the program and their lessons to suit the reality of the situation here. Kids here don’t understand time concepts at all, and so to tell them that they have a lesson at 9:45am really doesn’t register! There is a lot of behind-the-scenes management to get kids to the pool and keep them entertained while waiting for other kids of a similar ability level to have their lesson."
“The child health nurse was making egg sandwiches, cutting oranges and providing towels to kids after lessons as an incentive to participate and [there were] colouring-in materials to keep them occupied while waiting. Every year I have had the same nurse and her daughter helping at the pool for VacSwim so we are all getting better at ‘wrangling’ the kids to ensure the swimming teacher has a steady stream of like-ability kids to participate in lessons.”
The lessons took place over 10 days from the 14th-25th January, with 46 children taking part in the program with experienced swim instructor Diana Papenfus. Diana was recruited to travel to Warburton to deliver the program, and she made a great impression with the tight-knit community.
“Our swimming teacher Diana Papenfus was exceptional,” said Steve. “A very skilled and professional teacher with an abundance of patience, who all the kids really enjoyed having teach them. As with previous swimming teachers, Diana proved to be very flexible with her lessons so as to allow children who found it difficult to deal with time to join in. Because she had previously worked as a tour guide out here she really knew the place – the flora and fauna and the people. She really made the most of her time outside of teaching at the pool and the kids really missed her when she left.”
Diana was equally delighted with her students, enjoying their vibrant personalities and cheerfulness, as well as being impressed with their ability to follow the instructions to improve their swimming. “The highlight was the delightful personalities of the children…the hugs and friendliness of the children, and their laughter – I liked that. They’re very big personalities, all of them, and that is very delightful to be around. They’re strong, unique personalities – all of them are different, but charming and fun. When you’re in the water and they’re all enjoying themselves it’s such a positive place to be."
Diana said she was grateful for the experience, and to pool manager Steve for making her feel welcome. “I’d been to Warburton three or four times before, but I had never lived in the community, I’d only been passing through. I’ve had a little bit to do with Aboriginal culture and it was not utterly foreign to me, I was a bit aware. It wasn’t a baptism by fire!” she laughs.
“Steve had facilitated the whole experience really well, so it wasn’t difficult whatsoever to do the teaching. He was so on the ball about how to handle the children - who was who, and who had attended. I was just so impressed by the talent, skill and dedication of this fellow, he was brilliant. He’s just so dedicated to doing the best he can for that community – he’s a gem of Warburton, just fantastic."
“I look forward to going back later, another time. I would love to teach more children, or more of the adults who haven’t had that opportunity to learn how to swim, just some basics and survival techniques, that’s what I’d like to do.”
Read more about Diana’s experience at the link below.