SINK or swim. It’s the age-old saying that has sadly become all too literal, with the summer drowning toll hitting a devastating 18 last week.
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The spike in drownings has sparked a nation-wide debate over who is responsible for teaching our kids to swim.
Some have called for mandatory swim classes to be introduced in primary schools, while others insist responsibility lies in the hands of parents.
It is pleasing to see Moree is taking a stroke in the right direction with nearly 200 kids completing two weeks of intensive learn-to-swim lessons.
It is devastating to think 18 people already this summer have lost their lives – and shattered those of friends and families – from something that could so easily be prevented.
Teaching kids to swim is a huge part of many Aussie childhoods – but it doesn’t include everyone and we need to do something about it.
There’s no doubt about it: swimming lessons could help dramatically drive down the drowning toll in Australia.
We are surrounded by water every day – from rivers to lakes, pools to beaches, dams to troughs.
But just who is responsible for forking out on swimming lessons is where the argument divides.
YMCA NSW chief executive Leisa Hart has called for government rebates on learn-to-swim classes, backed up by compulsory swimming lessons in primary school.
But ultimately, parents should take responsibility for their children.
Initiatives like learn-to-swim lessons at our local pools must be supported.
This is the first summer Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre has taken over the Moree Swim to Survive program from the Department of Sport and Recreation and so far it has been a huge success, with 190 children from 18 months up to 14 years mastering the life-saving skill.
Royal Life Saving NSW has reported that half the state's primary schoolchildren are unable to swim by the time they enter high school.
Any help from the education system and government to teaching kids to swim is a welcomed step.
In the meantime, it may be expensive, but parents should invest in protecting their children through swimming lessons – especially in our region where there are so many waterways. At the end of the day, we can’t put a price on the life of a child.
