Teaching the little ones to swim

HEADS ABOVE WATER: Comet Swimming Club instructor Sandra Arnold helps James Harvey to develop his water wings at the learn-to-swim session held for East Coast members of the Parents As First Teachers initiative. Pictures by Paul Rickard

WITH no heated pool available on the East Coast, a group of mums decided to bring their pint-sized swimmers to Gisborne.

Parents As First Teachers co-ordinator for Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou Marina Dewes organised a pick-up of parents and children from Rangitukia for a learn-to-swim session with Comet Swimming Club.

“We just thought it would be a good opportunity to bring the mums and kids to town for an important learning experience,” she said.

“It meant a couple of hours travel for many of us but we knew it would be worth the trip.”