Victoria’s largest community-based learn-to- swim program has celebrated its 40th birthday in Maribyrnong.
Sports Minister John Eren and Maribyrnong mayor Cameron McDonald were among special guests at an anniversary gathering at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre on Thursday.
Almost 200 local kids are enrolled in Aquatics and Recreation Victoria’s VICSWIM program, which has taught swimming and water safety skills to almost 700,000 Victorian children since 1976.
This year, VICSWIM enrolments are approaching 10,000 for the first time in many years, with children learning from 450 swim teachers at more than 125 venues across Victoria.
Aquatic and Recreation Victoria chief executive Anthony McIntosh said many lives had been saved and improved because of VICSWIM’s swimming lessons for kids during school holidays.
“Many of us in the industry had our first swimming lessons with VICSWIM,” Mr McIntosh said.
