Shane Gould Swimming Foundation History

Tragically, for a country known around the world as a tropical island paradise, the second highest public health related cause of death in Fiji is accidental drowning. Each year on average more than 50 people die in swimming and boating related accidents, with this number sometimes as high as 90 per year. For the past 18 months we have been working with Shane Gould and Milton Nelms (one of the world’s top swim technicians) to see what can be done in the way of improving water safety and awareness in Fiji.

While a swimming pool is ideal for learning and improving swimming it is not essential. The Shane Gould Swimming Foundation provides very effective instructions in traditional natural/wild swimming locations, making suggestions for a culture of safety around rivers and oceans.

Lautoka Teachers College - Swim clinic 2006		Students from Lautoka College assemble by the bay

In August 2005 the first swim clinics commenced with Shane and Milton conducting 23 clinics around Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji and on some islands in the Mamanuca group of islands.

As a result of the 2005 tour a program has been designed for Fiji to generate the maximum results with limited resources that has the following key features:

1. Recognising that Fijians are naturally athletic people who quickly copy techniques shown to them in the water;
2. Recognising that there is not sufficient infrastructure of either swimming pools or the education system to facilitate a program that would work in developed countries;
3. Working in collaboration with the Suva and Lautoka Teachers Colleges to incorporate our program into their curriculum to teach the trainee teachers the skills to pass onto their students;
4. Encouraging tourist resorts throughout Fiji to take responsibility for the water safety at the villages from which they draw the bulk of their staff by:
   
   
   • Establishing a village ‘safe swimming area’ with simple and inexpensive rescue and safety equipment, such as floats tied to a tree that can be thrown to a struggling swimmer and a bell to raise alarm;
   • Ensuring that water sports staff attend training sessions conducted by Shane and Milt to become accredited and in turn to pass on their knowledge to the people of the local villages; and
   • Encouraging general staff to attend swimming clinics conducted by Shane and Milt.

Milton at white board with Raiwaqua Primary School

Since the August 2005 visit we returned in March and June 2006 to hold further swim clinics and to progress our plans and discussions with the Teachers Colleges, Resorts and Government. During our June visit Shane and Milton conducted two full day sessions in Suva and Lautoka with 650 teachers and trainee teachers.

In establishing the Shane Gould Swimming Foundation Fiji we are very pleased to acknowledge the support of our founding patrons Mark and Sandra Johnson and our sponsors.

The Shane Gould Swimming Foundation is in the process of being established as a legal entity. Presently all work is being conducted through Bathtub Productions.