22 May 2025
Mud Creek adventure and water safety lessons in Bidyadanga
Getting to Mud Creek isn’t easy. The tidal creek, tucked away north of Bidyadanga in the Kimberley, demands a tough 4WD journey through the sand and mud. But for members of the local coastal community, Mud Creek and surrounding seasonal waterholes and lakes are popular spots for fishing and recreation.
Royal Life Saving WA’s Pool Managers Linda and Scott Kendall recently joined two local families on a drive to Mud Creek to help provide education about inland water safety. The trip brought together a mix of Elders and parents, along with 10 teens and young children for an enjoyable afternoon by the creek’s bank.
“We like to go out on Country regularly with the locals to help,” said Linda. “We have good first hand knowledge on how the community and children interact with the water when on Country and use this local information to inform all our Swim and Survive teaching.”
At the creek, the group talked through the tides and fishing conditions before setting up. The adults shared what to watch out for, like the rising tide and how the water flow can quickly change, as well as the crocodile that lives in the creek system.
“Once we were at the creek we went over this information with the children again to make sure they understood the rising and moving tide, what the dangers are and how to stay safe. We discussed all the everyday equipment we had brought with us and how they could be used to help someone who could be drowning.”
In Western Australia, Aboriginal Australians are 4.8 times more likely to be involved in a drowning incident in inland waterways. Water safety talks on Country help communities recognise risks in their own environments and is key to reducing drownings in remote areas.
The whole group had a fantastic trip with one of the teens even gifting Linda and Scott a freshly caught threadfin salmon to take home for dinner.
“We think the trip was a success of sharing knowledge and connecting to community and Country,” concluded Linda.
This program was delivered by Royal Life Saving WA as part of the Inland Communities Water Safety Program with the support of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia and the Australian Government.
