Wagga Wagga sees first outback lifesavers in Royal Life Saving NSW program

There’s no rips or huge swells but that hasn’t stopped a group of budding bush lifesavers going through their paces on the Murrumbidgee.

There’s no rips or huge swells but that hasn’t stopped a group of budding young bush lifesavers from honing their skills on the Murrumbidgee River.

Dubbed the “outback lifesavers,” this group of plucky youngsters have been spending their weekends learning water safety in a new program aimed at saving lives across the state’s inland waterways.

The initiative is a partnership between Wagga Wagga City Council and Royal Life Saving NSW and is the state’s first Outback Lifesaver program.

The Murrumbidgee River, which flows through the Wagga city area remains one of Australia’s top ten drowning locations in Australia.

India Dutfield, Poppy Graham, Soonhee Anderson and Sophie Jolliffe on the Murrumbidgee River. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Children performing life saving drills at the Wagga Beach on the Murrumbidgee River. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Royal Life Saving Australia has recorded 12 drownings in the Murrumbidgee over the last 10 years.

Royal Life Saving NSW Riverina regional manager Michael Dasey said the program was introduced to help educate the kids of Wagga Wagga about the dangers of the river which runs through their backyard.

“The outback lifesavers program is really specific to the river environment here, so it’s very different to the nippers program which runs on the coast,” Mr Dasey said.

“Every inland waterways environment will be different which is why we‘ve chosen a different way of doing things, progressing from the standard swimming teaching ways.”

Mr Dasey said the program focuses on swimming and lifesaving practise surrounding rivers, lakes and dams which are all common recreational swimming waterways.

“A lot of the activity that occurs in the river is recreational swimming and of course, with that there are some high risk processes and that’s the reason for the unfortunate loss of life that has occurred along the river,” Mr Dasey said.

“We’re hoping what we teach becomes a snowball effect where the kids will start to talk to their friends and even their parents about what they’ve learnt.”

Wagga Wagga City Council and Royal Life Saving NSW have partnered to deliver the first Outback Lifesaver program. Picture: Simon Dallinger

The state’s first “outback lifesavers”. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Royal Life Saving CEO, Justin Scarr, said: “Too many people have lost their lives to drowning this summer, especially at inland waterways.”

“People underestimate the risks of swimming in rivers and lakes, where conditions can change quickly and without warning.”

The risks associated with swimming in inland rivers are more important than ever as the Murumbidgee swells following one of the wettest January on record in the Riverina.

The BOM recorded 14mm of rainfall over the month with showers expected to be continued in the coming months, meaning residents should remain hyperaware when swimming in the area.

Kids being put through their paces at Wagga Beach on the Murrumbidgee River. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Wagga Wagga’s “outback lifesavers”. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Poppy Graham, 8, joined the program this week and said she loves spending her Sunday mornings swimming at Wagga Beach and learning about the river.

“I’ve learnt lots of things I didn’t know before I started going like how the river goes up and down every time it rains, and I also didn’t know about the currents,” Miss Graham said.

“It’s really fun, we learn how to save each other in the river and do swimming relays.”

“I saw our family friend Tom as a lifesaver in Port Macquarie in the holidays and I think I’d like to be one too.”