Nathalia kinder kids get water-wise

Educator Andrea Sutton said the program was important for their students who lived near bodies of water.

“Most of our children are on farms near channels and dams and we’ve got the Broken Creek that runs right through Nathalia so it’s about making good, safe choices,” she said.

“For some of our children, they’ve never been in a pool or had swimming lessons so it gives them an idea of what it’s going to feel like when they start school.”

The students were divided into five different groups based on their level of skill.

The beginners started off learning the basics, such as kicking their feet and wading through the water in the smaller pool.

The more advanced children practised swimming in the adult pool with flotation devices and the help of adults.

After the children became accustomed to the water, they also had a chance to practise wearing life jackets.

Mrs Sutton added that the program was always well received by the students.

“I’ve never had one child not want to do it, everyone participates,” she said.

“I’ve had parents unsure about taking the children to a pool but when they’ve seen them in action they can’t believe how well they follow directions and make good choices.”

This year is the 12th year that the program has run and the first year it has been held in Echuca.