Swimming safely with sea mates

By Rebecca Fraser
STUDENTS at Narre Warren North Primary School learnt all about water safety this week from a person who knows only too well about the dangers of swimming.
Narre Warren mother of three, Kylie Lehman, lost her 22-year-old brother-in-law, Justin Lehman, in 2000 after he drowned at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach when caught in a rip while bodysurfing.
Ms Lehman enrolled in the YMCA’s aquatic education program and wrote a children’s book called Shelly the Shrimp and her Aquasafe Friends, which was released nationally last year by the YMCA.
On Monday Ms Lehman visited Narre Warren North Primary School with the Shelly the Shrimp characters from the YMCA’s education program and helped educate children about the importance of water safety skills.
Ms Lehman now works as an aquatic education teacher with the YMCA and is the school’s administrator, at the Casey ARC.
Her book is aimed at children aged five to nine years and tells the story of how Shelly and her marine friends learn how to swim safely.
Ms Lehman has donated all proceeds from the sale of the book to the YMCA to advance aquatic education and water safety in the community.
The money will also help provide disadvantaged children with the opportunity to learn water safety through the YMCA’s unique Aquasafe program, which combines water safety with life-skills training.
School principal Ian Norman welcomed Ms Lehman’s visit this week and said it was crucial that children understood the importance of water safety.
“In Australia, we have so much water and it is important that children learn water safety skills from an early age.
“The book has come about through tragic reasons but it is inspirational and will greatly benefit many children and parents,” he said.
The book also includes water safety tips for children and parents for swimming in pools, rivers, lakes and beaches.
Shelly the Shrimp and her AquaSafe Friends (recommended price $9.95) is dedicated to the memory of Justin Lehman and is available through the YMCA Estore at www.ystore.com.au and at major retail outlets, bookstores, the Casey ARC and newsagents.