A group of Grade five students from one of the Northern Territory’s most remote towns has gone the extra mile, 550 kilometres to be exact, to learn vital water safety skills at SWELL Palmerston. 

The class from Kalkarindji, a small community of just 334 people and the proud home of the Gurindji people, boarded a bus for the 10-hour journey to SWELL to take part in four days of intensive swimming lessons. 

With no access to commercial pools at home, the trip was the only way the students could complete their school swimming program and to meet the Northern Territory Government’s requirement of eight 45-minute sessions.

The team at SWELL was more than happy to support by doubling up on lessons and running classes in both the morning and afternoon for the students. 

“We were so incredibly happy to accommodate the class after they travelled all that way. The kids were fantastic, so polite, engaged and really eager to learn, especially when it came to rescue tips and safety skills,” said SWELL Venue Manager, Ashley Stephens.

For many of the children, swimming remains an essential part of life at home. 

“While they do not have a commercial swimming pool in their hometown, the children still swim in rivers and swimming holes. We want to make sure every child in the Territory knows how to enjoy the water safely, no matter how far away they live from SWELL,” concluded Ashley. 

Dr Jeff Walkley, Belgravia Leisure’s National Diversity & Inclusion Manager applauded the welcome, support and inclusion of children from Kalkarindji provided by the team at SWELL.  

“Actions like this showcase how Belgravia Leisure is enacting its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, right across Australia, creating fabulous outcomes for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

To learn more, visit the SWELL Palmerston website website.

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