"In everything give thanks......." 1 Thess 5:18

Our journal and glimpses of an active, contented life in country Australia

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Learn to Swim

A topic in the news this week is one of the nation's leading swimming bodies calling for compulsory learn-to-swim programs at schools,  to halve the number of drowning deaths by 2020.

That reminded me of the spot where I learnt to swim. It was compulsory that students at Coffs Harbour High School swim  50 metres, in the gloomy creek upstream from here, before participating in any other summer sport.  I went by there last year and took these photos.   I can't imagine a learn-to-swim program taking place in a creek only about 200 yards from the ocean these days.



 
Joining Susan at Outdoor Wednesday
 
Hugs and Blessings,
Jan

5 comments:

Robin said...

I've never had compulsory swimming lessons, either in the US or here in Israel, but it's certainly a skill I made darn sure my children learned well. Interestingly, in the US they teach the crawl first, here in Israel it's the breast stroke, since they feel that's more important for safe ocean swimming.

Hilary said...

I think making sure everyone can swim is so important. It is so scary to think about people drowning because they lack this skill. Enough people drown every year because they take big risks - i know - i live on the beach

Rod said...

Children seem to love swimming. It is a shame it costs a lot to go regularly to swimming pools... maybe the creek is the best bet still?!

carol l mckenna said...

Gorgeous place to learn to swim ~ Fantastic photography ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

Jan said...

Yes I hope children still swim in the creeks, though where I swam near Bellingen at Grandma's is a trickle now. We budgeted for a season ticket at the pool at Grafton for my children and they made good use of it.