Mildura’s new MP to swim laps for annual fundraiser

Mildura’s new MP has come up with a unique plan to get to know her constituents while raising money for a good cause. Read more.

Jade Benham has pulled on her bathers to swim for charity for three years, but this year the new Mildura MP has come up with a unique way to get to know her new constituents.

Several years ago the recently elected MP started swimming 20km each summer to raise money for the Starlight Foundation.

“I’m a big fan of what the Starlight Foundation do.. and I’m swimmer so it just kind of fits,” she said.

Local Jade Benham is heading to the pool raise money a children's charity . Supplied pic.

While she doesn’t raise a lot of money doing it, Ms Benham continues what has become an annual tradition to raise awareness of the work the foundation does.

“The last time I did it was 2021 and I raised $310,” she said. “I want raise awareness for the work Starlight Foundation do, and it’s very close to my heart.”

This year Ms Benham will visit a host of local pools across the region for her fundraiser and plans to use the travel as an opportunity to speak to residents about local issues.

“There are 21 pools in the electorate. We are going to have to be a little bit flexible because the electorate of Mildura is 35,000km, so it’ll take me three hours to get from Mildura to Donald,” she said.

“We’ll start in Robinvale, and then work our way around.”

Ms Benham is even willing to brave the waters of Ouyen Lake for charity.

“The secretary of the Ouyen Lake committee rang me and suggested that I swim the lake … so we’ll do that,” she said.

Ms Benham agreed it was a unique way to engage with the community, but said she needed to be creative.

“It’s a great excuse to drive the roads that are in such poor conditions, but also get out into the community.

“And where the community actually are this time of year in the great northwest of the state is at the community swimming pool.”

While Ms Benham is only aiming to swim 20kms, she will happily increase the goal for a donation.

“My goal this year is $$1000. I would love to raise much more than that so if someone wants to challenge me and double that in one donation, I’ll more than happily swim more than the 20 km,” she said.