Sunshine Leisure Centre lifeguard Stefan Harsic enjoys teaching youngsters how to swim. 70628 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
BY NATALIE GALLENTI
WITH summer fast approaching Brimbank residents are being reminded about the importance of water safety.
And the reminder is a timely one with figures from this year’s Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report revealing 38 people drowned in Victoria in the year to June.
Sunshine Leisure Centre manager Kathy Hall said drowning was one of the leading causes of death in Australian children, according to Life Saving Victoria statistics, so it was vital that all children learnt the importance of safety near the water.
“People need to understand different aquatic environments – surf and bay beaches, dams, lakes, rivers, pools – and know how to recognise potential dangers and to keep themselves safe,” Ms Hall said.
“It’s important that signage is observed and that people heed the advice, like swim between the flags, check water depth before entering, no head-first dives.”
Ms Hall warned parents to always remain vigilant when their children were swimming or near water of any kind.
She also said newly arrived members of the community might be unfamiliar with the dangers associated with some aquatic conditions and would benefit from attending swimming programs.
Sunshine Leisure Centre lifeguard and instructor Stefan Harsic said the best part of his job was teaching youngsters how to swim.
The 17-year-old has an extensive swimming background and the water is like his second home. He hopes to impart some of his love of the pool onto his students.
“It’s good to see their swimming constantly developing,” the Braybrook College student said.
“It’s a lot easier to persuade a little kid to jump into the water and have a go.”
He said parents only had to turn their backs on their children for a split second and tragedy could strike.
“Children drown silently.”
Both Sunshine and St Albans leisure centres offer a wide range of swimming programs for children and adults.
