The Walcha News of February 18, 1954, reads in part: “Swimming lessons were given in the Tia River from January 26 to 30 inclusive by Mr & Mrs K. McGregor of Tamworth under the supervision of the Physical Fitness Officer, Mr G. Walker, also of Tamworth. Children five years old and up from Brackendale, Tia, Yarrowitch and Walcha took part with an average daily attendance of 63.”
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Keith and Norma Cummins hosted the 5-day event and accommodated the instructors at their High Rent property. Norma said the lessons were given in a safe waterhole about a mile from the homestead. They had a rope in the river that the children could hang on to if they tired and also had a good bonfire burning on the riverbank where the kids could warm themselves after they had finished their swim.
The Walcha News of November 18, 1954 advised that swimming lessons were planned for High Rent over the 1954-55 summer season. The lessons would be under the control of the Department of Education but otherwise would be conducted as before.
The Walcha News of November 18, 1954 advised that swimming lessons were planned for High Rent over the 1954-55 summer season.
Neville Stuart, a local teacher who was also a major advocate of the “learn to swim” campaign, was an instructor at the swimming schools from 1954 onwards.
The School Vacation Swimming School was divided into two portions for the summer of 1955-56. One was at the Hutchinson family’s Willowdene property on the Yarrowitch River and the other at the Eliott family’s Greenwells property on the Apsley River at Walcha where hessian-clad dressing sheds were erected.
A section of the Apsley River some 100 yards long and containing good clear water was used for the lessons but the rocky river bed made it a little tough on tender feet. Some of the swimmers thought there were a few too many leeches in the river.
The inaugural event at Greenwells was a great success with 138 children attending. At the conclusion 134 were awarded certificates for their ability to swim over distances ranging from 10 yards to more than 50 yards. The summer vacation swimming school continued to be held there until at least the 1957-58 season.
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https://www.walchanewsonline.com.au/story/5717825/river-breaks-banks/?cs=11863