AFTER a few weeks of uncertainty, vacation swimming lessons began at the Millicent Swimming Lake on Tuesday morning.
Almost 50 youngsters were taught water safety and basic swimming strokes by instructor in charge Marcia Hobbs and other Royal Lifesaving SA instructors.
Adelaide-based chief instructor Maurice Phillips was on hand on Tuesday to watch the progress of local youngsters.
A veteran of 37 years, his role gives him oversight of lessons at 66 beaches, pools and lakes across South Australia.
Mr Phillips said the initial cancellation of the Millicent program was announced last month as sufficient instructors could not be found.
He said the recruitment process across South Australia for instructors in charge began in July and appointments at this level across SA were finalised in September.
“Our instructor in charge appointed to Millicent withdrew in December and others for this venue followed,” Mr Phillips said.
“We are grateful that Marcia took on the instructor in charge role at Millicent.
“Come hell or high water, we will work to continue to have swimming lessons at Millicent.
“It is vitally important that children learn about safety in the water.”
For Ms Hobbs, she is pleased with the part she is playing in having local lessons in Millicent.
“Swimming is a life skill,” Ms Hobbs said.
“It is something which is very valuable and especially with the drowning statistics.
“Wattle Range Council has done a fantastic job at the lake with the shade sails and the cleanliness.
“The parents are wonderful here and the instructors have been complimented for coming to Millicent to teach swimming.”
The highly-qualified instructor works part-time at a swim facility in Mount Gambier and has previously taught at Millicent.
“I love teaching swimming and I have done it since I was 15,” Ms Hobbs said.
“I am qualified to teach swimming from youngsters to adults as well as people with a disability.
“I volunteer with the World Wildlife Fund and with Animals Australia and as a crisis counsellor with Lifeline Mount Gambier.
“I am a humanitarian type of person.”
The decision to continue with the Millicent lessons has been welcomed by Susan Hasse, who brings her school-aged children from their Glencoe home.
In her youth, she undertook some of her higher grade swimming qualifications at the lake and later spent three or four of her university vacations as an instructor at the venue.
“If the Millicent lessons were cancelled, we were looking at heading to Robe,” Ms Hasse said.
“Swimming lessons at Millicent is a family tradition and it is convenient.
“The children learn new skills and have fun.
“By coming to Millicent, we can also see my husband who works at Landmark.”
Although the temperature did not climb above 20C on Tuesday, her six-year-old daughter Jasmine was not bothered by the cool water.
“We got to blow bubbles underwater in our first lesson,” Jasmine said.
“We then floated on our backs like starfish and then we had a dog paddle.”
Wattle Range Council is paying for a lifeguard to be on duty for the duration of the swimming lessons.
