Media Release

Boating Safety Lessons a Hit with School Children

With only two weeks of school to go lessons on safety around boats are still being eagerly anticipated by Southland school children.

This is the first year Environment Southland has offered the boat safety programme to schools. Deputy Habourmaster Lyndon Cleaver said the programme had been a spectacular success with lots of schools taking up the offer and hundreds of children from all around the province learning about safety around boats.

“Children are talking about what they’re learning and taking the safety messages back to their families. It’s great and exactly what we want,” said Mr Cleaver. “It means people will be wiser and more safety conscious around boats.”

Fourteen schools took part in the programme and another six are on the waiting list. “We’ve been to schools from Garston to Bluff,” said Mr Cleaver.

Mr Cleaver said the programme teaches a range of safety practice from where to sit in a boat to how to behave in the water around them. Lifejackets are a focus. “We have a bit of fun around that too, with a life jacket relay race,” he said.

Next week Mr Cleaver will be delivering the programme at Takitimu Primary School in Nightcaps on Monday, Knapdale School in Gore on Tuesday, and Te Anau School on the Wednesday and again the following Wednesday.

ENDS

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