Not-for-profit organisation Spencer Swim Safe recently had two volunteers (Tia and Ben Spencer) travel to Cairns for a two-week swimming program in the aboriginal community of Yarrabah.
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Yarrabah is a mission village 58 km's from Cairns.
Tia and Ben arrived on the Sunday to prepare for their swimming lessons early Monday morning with the local pre-school kids. The kids were great and really enjoyed their lessons, so much so that some even came for round two in the afternoons.
The pair saw a huge improvement over the fortnight of lessons, with kids screaming at the start of the program not to get in the water and then by the end screaming not to get out. The Spencers also provided lessons to the primary school kids, who improved their stroke and built enough confidence to enter the water and swim with friends.
After each school day they stayed on and provided private swimming lessons, which was very beneficial for some of the younger children in the area that didn't attend school or pre-school. Ultimately the trip was very beneficial to the community of Yarrabah and they have said they'd welcome Spencer Swim Safe back with open arms. Ben Spencer said the feeling was mutual.
"Our time was so enjoyable and the people are just great and very helpful," he said.
"The children were just awesome and they really wanted to learn to swim.
"The feeling of satisfaction when seeing the improvement with the kids is really special and the smile I see on a child's face when they realise they can swim is one we want to see again and again."
Programs like this don't happen without the support of everyone who donates or attends the annual fundraiser 'Rump and Red Theatre Night', and of course their main sponsor Spencer Travel.
Contributed.