She couldn’t swim before coming to Australia, but Thei-Lay Paw has become Victoria’s first female lifesaver from Burma’s persecuted Karen minority.
Born in the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai border, 14-year-old Thei-Lay joins six other teenagers from Burma who are patrolling Williamstown beach.
“It feels great to be the first girl and also be surrounded by the others,” she said. “It’s peaceful when you get to come down to the beach, have a swim and get to meet new friends.”
Soon after arriving in Australia as a refugee, Thei-Lay started swimming at age eight through Life Saving Victoria’s multicultural learn-to-swim program at Hoppers Crossing.
She then joined the Nippers program before completing her surf rescue training last month alongside her brother, Nelson, 13, and fellow Karen community members Allbright Sun, 18, and Yoe Doh Htoo Heh, 15. They are the second wave of Karen lifesavers at Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club, joining Yee Sai Say, 16, and brothers Dawit, 17, and Aliah Htoo, 14.
Life Saving Victoria multicultural projects manager David Holland said Thei-Lay’s mother and older sister had also learned to swim through the multicultural program and had become swimming teachers at Laverton.
