Belfast Aquatics, Department of Education charged by WorkSafe after Cooper Onyett’s tragic death

A Port Fairy pool operator and the Department of Education have been charged by WorkSafe two years after a “bright” grade two student drowned while on school camp.

A Port Fairy pool operator and the Department of Education have been slapped with charges by WorkSafe after a young boy tragically lost his life while on school camp.

Cooper Onyett, 8, drowned at Belfast Aquatics in the state’s southwest on May 21, 2021, while on his first overnight camp with Merrivale Primary School.

His mother, Skye Meinen, spoke exclusively to the Herald Sun in the days after her son’s death, describing the grade two student as the “life of the party”.

“He lived every single day of his life with a smile and tried to make everyone around him happy and tried to get them to appreciate everything around them,” Ms Meinen said.

“He brightened up everything.”

Skye Meinen with her sons Jett and Cooper. Picture: Supplied

She said Cooper’s death left the family in total shock.

“All I know is that I had an excited little boy going on his first ever sleepover school camp,” she said.

“I dropped him off on Thursday and gave him a great big hug goodbye and said, ‘I’ll see you on Friday’.”

In a statement, Victoria’s workplace safety watchdog on Friday revealed the pool operator and Department of Education had been charged in relation to Cooper’s death.

Port Fairy Community Pool Management Group Inc faces three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for “failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to their health or safety arising from the conduct of their undertaking”.

The pool management faces three other charges under the Act for failing to ensure that a workplace under its management and control was “safe and without risks to health”.

Jett with his younger brother, Cooper.

Cooper on his first day of grade two. Picture: Supplied

“WorkSafe will allege the pool failed to test the swimming ability of the students before allowing them to use an inflatable obstacle course, have currently qualified lifeguards on duty and instruct lifeguards on the safe use of the inflatable,” a WorkSafe spokesman said.

This is the first time details of the circumstances surrounding Cooper’s death have been made public.

The Department of Education has also been charged with one breach of the Act.

“WorkSafe will allege the Department failed to inform the pool of the children’s swimming abilities or ensure their abilities were tested,” the spokesman said.

Cooper with his mum and older brother, Jett. Picture: Supplied

Ms Meinen lashed the state government at the time over its refusal to grant her family an exemption during the Covid pandemic, which made it impossible for the family to hold a bigger funeral for the eight-year-old.

She told the Herald Sun a larger memorial would be held in Warrnambool when restrictions eased after the number of people allowed to attend the service was slashed to 10 guests.

Days later though, she said she was “at peace” with the decision.

“Although others may be angered about their decision, we are at peace with it and Cooper is laid to rest,” Ms Meinen said.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on May 29.