Swim programme makes big splash

Sir John Walker and Len Brown join 9-year-old Tahitanga Ripia at Otara Leisure Centre pool to mark his selection as the 200,000th youngster to participate in the swimming lesson.

Community Swim, the cornerstone project of Sir John Walker’s Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, marked a major milestone with its 200,000th swim lesson for Manukau youngsters.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Sir John Walker were the key participants in the ceremony at the Otara Leisure Centre.

The milestone swimming lesson coincided with East Tamaki Primary School plunging into the pools for its Community Swim sessions and the youngster selected as the 200,000th swim lesson participant was Year 5 pupil, Tahitanga Ripia. 

Community Swim is an initiative that provides free lessons to Year 3, 4 and 5 pupils in Manukau, in partnership with Manukau Leisure Services and Swimsation.

Since Wakaaranga and Yendarra Primary Schools participated in a ‘pilot’ programme in 2008, more than 28,000 youngsters from 84 Manukau primary schools have been involved in the programme.

By the end of this year it will have delivered just under 270,000 lessons to more than 38,000 youngsters.

Sir John Walker said, “As well as providing a healthier lifestyle for young people, sport also offers the opportunity for them to succeed at another level.  It will require hard work and dedication, but as I found out, it is a great dream to pursue.”