Spirit Carnival comes to the Kimberley

More than 50 children from remote communities in WA’s north recently came together for the annual Kimberley Spirit Swimming and Lifesaving Carnival at the Halls Creek Aquatic Centre.

Now in its second year, the Royal Life Saving WA event is part of our work to address the concerning statistic that the Kimberley region has the second highest drowning rate of any area in WA, with 19 people losing their lives over the past ten years. 

Overall, 33.3 per cent of people who drown in the Kimberley are Aboriginal, the largest proportion of any other region. Royal Life Saving research shows that Aboriginal children between the ages of 5 and 14 are 8.6 times more likely to be involved in a fatal drowning than non-Aboriginal children, and overall, half of children who fatally drown are Aboriginal. 

“Royal Life Saving believes it’s really important Aboriginal children in the Pilbara and Kimberley have the same opportunities to take part in swimming and lifesaving carnivals,” said Jonnine Rowe, Sport, Schools and Inland Waterways Coordinator.

“It really is a great way to bring the communities and surrounding communities together.”

Supported by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries and the Shire of Halls Creek, the carnival gave students an opportunity to showcase the swimming skills they have learnt throughout the year through the Swim and Survive and Swim for Fruit programs.

Royal Life Saving WA Senior Manager Education, Trent Hotchkin, says these swimming and water safety programs are essential. 

“Learning to Swim and Survive is a vital life skill that all Western Australian children need to safely participate on, in and around water. Building swimming and water safety skills in young children is vital work and the single most important investment we can make as a community to prevent drowning.” 

Francine Ellis, Warlawurru Catholic School Principal, said the Royal Life Saving team’s enthusiasm was contagious.

“We even had a boy who hasn’t attended school for a while join in, a special moment for his mum. He then came to the school disco which is a huge step for him,” she said.

You can find out more about our work across the Kimberley at the link below.