Front (from left) Learn to Swim students Charlie Burge, Lincoln Arthur, Timothy Burge Archer Ladson and Bronte Ladson; Back (from left) program volunteers Deb Gazarra, John Arthur and Karen Bond with Murray Irrigation customer service team leader Jayne Crompton.
Murray Irrigation is keen to create a splash in swimming pools across the region this summer, with the launch of its 2025/26 Learn to Swim program.
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The company is once again inviting local schools and swimming clubs to participate in its long-running annual sponsorship initiative, which contributes $10 towards every child who completes an accredited learn to swim activity.
With the latest National Drowning Report 2025 revealing inland waterways accounted for 122 drowning deaths in the past year, Murray Irrigation chief executive officer Ron McCalman hopes to see more students getting involved than ever in learn to swim activities this season.
"Empowering regional and rural children with invaluable swimming and water safety skills has long been a cause close to Murray Irrigation's heart," Mr McCalman said.
"We're proud to have been sponsoring local children to participate in swimming and water safety lessons for more than 20 years through this program.
“Living in an area where rivers, dams and irrigation channels are part of our everyday lives, water safety is a necessary skill for our children, and we look forward to seeing even more students head to the pool for swimming lessons this summer.”
More than 1300 children participated in Murray Irrigation's 2024-25 Learn to Swim program.
Among them were more than 140 children who took the plunge as part of the Deniliquin Outdoor Pools' Town Intensive Learn to Swim program in January (Deniliquin Outdoor Pools has since had a name change and is now known as Deniliquin Aquatic Community Group).
Brenda Norman, who was president at the time, said the 10-day program, which took place at the Deniliquin Swim Centre, was "incredibly well-received".
“The positive feedback we received from local parents, children and residents was overwhelming," she said.
"The success of this program has made a significant impact, not only in teaching vital water safety skills to our young people, but also in fostering a sense of connection and community spirit.
"Murray Irrigation's support played a key role in making this possible.”
Applications for this year's Learn to Swim program close on Friday, November 28.
Murray Irrigation's Learn to Swim program is made possible through the support of the company's customers.
Murray Irrigation's Jayne Crompton was poolside in January to present students who participated in the Deniliquin Outdoor Pool's Town Intensive Learn to Swim Program with their certificates of completion.
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