WaterSafe notches up major milestone

This group of Okaihau Primary School Room 2 pupils learns the lifesaving technique of getting in a huddle and hanging on to each other in the water. Photo / Lindy Laird

A small Far North school helped chalk up a huge number when one of its pupils received the 200,000th lesson in Top Energy's WaterSafe Programme.

Nick Harrison from Room 2, Okaihau Primary School, received a certificate for being the pupil to get the 200,000th lesson since the programme, sponsored by the power company, started in 1997.

Tim Couling (Principal Okaihau Primary), pupil Nick Harrison, Russell Shaw Top Energy chief executive and Colleen Atchison, Sport Northland, at the presentation in Okaihau.

Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw presented Nick and Okaihau School's principal Tim Couling with certificates to mark the special occasion.

The WaterSafe Programme was developed by Sport Northland, with help from Swimming New Zealand and Water Safety New Zealand and has won several awards. The free programme aims to improve the water safety, swimming and survive skills of primary and intermediate aged children in the Far North and mid-Northland, and to upskill teachers, Sport Northland's Colleen Atchison said. Each pupil taking part has five lessons.

The programme has won major awards, including the 2009 New Zealand Water Safety Awards - Prevention Category, 2011 NZ Recreation Association Outstanding Community Recreation Programme Award, and 2014 AUSTSWIM Aotearoa Most Outstanding Contribution Award to Louise Collings (Sport Northland Swim For Life Team Leader and Instructor).

Meanwhile, Northland Swim for Life and Top Energy's WaterSafe Programme have been named as a finalists in the Community Impact category of the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards. Now in their eighth year, the awards recognise and celebrate contributions to the sport and recreation sector.

The Northland Swim For Life and Top Energy WaterSafe programmes are a partnership between Sport Northland and regional funders Water Safety New Zealand (Northland wide), Top Energy Ltd (Far and Mid North) and the Northland District Health Board (Northland wide). The principal aims of these partnerships is to improve the swimming skills, water safety awareness and associated survival skills for primary school-aged children. The winners will be announced on April 13.