Geraldton kids hit the beach
Over the 09/10 summer Indigenous youth in Geraldton have been getting a taste of sun, surf and sand through an initiative supported by Surf Lifesaving WA and the Department of Sport and Recreation.
Late last year three representatives
from Surf Life Saving WA visited Bluff Point, Rangeway and Beachlands Primary
Schools in Geraldton to inform the children on surf matters such as, how to
recognise a rip, what to do if in a rip, swimming between the flags, how to recognize a distressed
swimmer and other safety procedures.
The group also ran some practical sessions with the 28 girls from the Midwest Netball Academy at Back Beach. The girls participated in games such as sand relays, flags, crab races amongst others. All girls enjoyed the session and certainly appreciated the practical surf awareness.
“It is estimated the 2009 program came into direct contact with about 200 primary and secondary students in Geraldton through the Geraldton and Champion Bay surf life saving clubs,” said DSR Mid West Indigenous Sports Development Officer Adrian Bartlett.
“Three representatives of Surf Life Saving WA were in Geraldton for three days during the latest program, visiting Bluff Point, Rangeway and Beachland primary schools. Students from the local Indigenous Netball Academy and Midwest Football Academy also participated.”
Thanks largely to the program the numbers of indigenous youth joining Surf Clubs in the area has steadily increased over the past year.
The importance of encouraging Indigenous youth about surf awareness is highlighted by the fact that Geraldton community is one that enjoys recreating in and around water. The program is also a valuable tool in helping to address the alarming number of drowning deaths of Indigenous Australians.
Planning is underway for the 2010 program, possibly to be accompanied by a mini-carnival between participating schools in Geraldton in December.
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