Partnering with ANA Rowing club to keep kids river safe
16 children aged 10-16 years are learning vital survival and rescue skills as part of our Swim and Survive on the Swan program at the ANA Rowing Club in Bayswater.
ANA Rowing Club has come on board to assist Royal Life Saving Society WA in promoting the program, providing personnel, water safety equipment, and facility use for the duration of the 8 week course.
Club Secretary Leonie Edwards says “ANA is excited to be able to work with RLSSWA. The club is extremely lucky to be able to use the best water in Perth and now can share it with more people by offering Bronze Medallion courses and Swim and Survive courses. The collaboration demonstrates that ANA is pro-active in promoting water safety in the community."
Swim and Survive on the Swan teaches children skills from Royal Life Saving Society WA’s Bronze Medallion program, including survival and rescue techniques, to safely participate in activities in the river environment. The children currently involved are thoroughly enjoying the program as they learn new survival, negotiation and rescue skills.
Our hope is to see these children achieve their Bronze Medallion, or even become an aquatic trainer in future so they can pass on knowledge and skills they’ve learned to their friends, family and community.
Recent Royal Life Saving Society National Drowning Report data shows that inland waterways are the leading location for drowning deaths in Australia, with more than a quarter of the nation’s drowning deaths last financial year happening in rivers, creeks, lakes and dams. Of the 75 people who died at these inland waterway locations, 58 were in rivers and creeks.
Royal Life Saving Society WA is pleased to work with ANA, as we focus on ensuring all young people have the skills they need to safely participate in recreational activities at inland waterway locations.
There are 12 rowing clubs in WA and the ANA is the first to partner with us in the Swim and Survive Program. We would love to see more clubs get involved as we share a common objective in promoting safe aquatic recreation on the Swan River.
Rowing clubs can speak to Royal Life Saving Society WA or Rowing WA to find out how they can get involved, or complete the contact form at the link below.
