General News
24 May, 2026
Pool partners
TWO organisations have come together to make a splash in the local swimming lesson space - making it easier for youngsters to stay safe around water
TWO organisations have come together to make a splash in the local swimming lesson space - making it easier for youngsters to stay safe around water. A successful partnership between Loddon Shire Council and Inglewood and District Community Bank has helped dozens of local children improve their swimming and water safety skills during the 2025/26 pool season through the “Learn to Swim in Loddon” program. The initiative delivered four free swimming and water safety lessons to children across three pool locations, with a total of 78 youngsters taking part in the program - many of whom may otherwise have missed the opportunity to learn vital water safety skills. At Mitiamo, all 10 available places were filled, while both Inglewood and Wedderburn programs proved especially popular, each attracting more enrolments than initially available. Inglewood recorded 33 participants for 30 places, while Wedderburn attracted 35 participants for 30 places. Loddon Shire councillor Miki Wilson said the program had delivered important benefits for local families and communities. “Swimming is a skill for life, and programs like this make a real difference for families who may otherwise struggle to access lessons due to the rising cost of living,” Cr Wilson said. “It is wonderful to see so many children across our communities gaining confidence in the water and learning skills that could one day save their lives.” Cr Wilson said the strong response at Inglewood and Wedderburn highlighted the demand for affordable swimming opportunities across the shire. “The fact the program was oversubscribed in both towns shows just how valued these opportunities are within our communities,” she said. “Council is extremely grateful for the support provided by the Inglewood and District Community Bank, whose contribution has helped make local children safer around water while also supporting healthy and active lifestyles during summer.” The Community Bank also supported half-price memberships and casual pool entries at Inglewood, Wedderburn and Mitiamo pools throughout the season. Council said the initiative delivered strong results by encouraging safe, supervised swimming opportunities across the municipality. Cr Wilson said council hoped to continue building on the success of the initiative in future years. “We look forward to partnering with the Community Bank again on future community projects that deliver real benefits for our residents,” she said.
Read More: Inglewood, Loddon Shire