Talent Pool Academy leads paddle on Pretty Pool

The Talent Pool Academy in Port Hedland recently held their first community paddle day, bringing kids and families together for a fun session on the water at Pretty Pool. 

Talent Pool members have been training and paddling hard in preparation for the day, each having earned their Bronze Medallion, and some also holding First Aid and Pool Lifeguard qualifications. 

With guidance from Royal Life Saving WA’s Tim Turner and Relma Joyce Bule-Turner, the young leaders kept everyone safe and made sure they had a blast as many local kids learn how to kayak and paddleboard for the first time. 

“The team has been planning, training, and paddling in preparation to what became a perfect day on the water,” Tim shared. 

“This initiative encourages children and young people to exercise in the great outdoors otherwise known as the green gym or possibly blue gym given we were on water …. you get the point!” 

The Talent Pool program helps local and Indigenous youth in regional WA access aquatic training and enter employment pathways. Community events such as this allow young people to step into leadership roles, demonstrates positive role models to local kids, and helps build trust and visibility in the community. 

The session was delivered as part of Royal Life Saving WA’s Paddle On-Country initiative, made possible with support from BHP and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. 

With perfect weather and huge smiles all around, Pretty Pool proved to be the perfect setting for the next generation of young leaders to step up and shine! 

Check out more of what Talent Pool has been getting up to at the link below.