The East Gippsland Lakes Open Water Swim Challenge

$9,020 raised

TARGET $10,000

Please support this cause

$
AUD

About

Christine Boucher moved to Paynesville 2 years ago, and loves the local environment of the East Gippsland Lakes system. After spending 15 years working as a travelling nurse on yachts around the world, she has an adventurous spirit and a healthy respect for open water.

12 months ago she decided to learn more about our lakes system and challenged herself to complete a 20km open water swim from Nungurner to Paynesville. This challenge is linked to a desire to bring awareness to the incidents and prevention of drowning in open water.

The East Gippsland Lakes Open Water Swim Challenge in February 2015 aims to raise $10,000 for the development of a new Open Water Safety and Survival Day program. This program will be developed and run in association with the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre (BARC) and Lakes Entrance Aquadome and Recreation Centre (LARC); and will be made available to all students in grades 5 and 6 in 2016, from over 30 East Gippsland schools.

Christine will be joined for the entire swim by Sharon Blegg, who is a local member of Police and an elite athlete. Sharon joined Chris initially as a training partner, and has now agreed to complete the swim with Chris on the day. Amongst other things, Sharon has represented Victoria and Australia in Taekwondo, and has competed internationally in kayak, mountain bike, off road running and swimming.

Chris, Sharon and their team are seeking the support of local individuals, businesses and organisations from across East Gippsland to raise the required $10,000 to get the program going.

Statistics:
The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2014 advises that:
• Of the top 3 drowning locations, Rivers/Creeks/Streams are number 1, and Beaches are number 3.
• The top 3 activities leading to drowning are 1. Swimming and Recreation 2. Falling into Water and 3. Watercraft Incidents.
• Children between the ages of 0 and 14 accounted for 12% of all drownings in 2014
• 50,000 children will leave primary school without being able to swim 50 metres or stay afloat for 2 minutes.
• Panic is a major contributor of drowning deaths. Education and experience will help lower the drowning toll.
• It takes just 20 seconds to drown.

Key Points:
East Gippsland Lakes Open Water Swim Challenge
• Chris has been training with the support of a coach for 12 months, and has since been joined by training and challenge swimmer Sharon. Both Chris and Sharon are currently swimming around 20 kms per week in preparation for the challenge.
• Chris and Sharon have battled difficult lake and weather conditions, as well as the cold during the winter period. Chris has 2 separate incidents of a jelly fish to the face which caused her pain, numbness and swelling. But this did not stop their determination.
• The swim is scheduled to arrive at Paynesville foreshore/yacht club during the Paynesville Music Festival on Sunday 22nd February 2015.
• The date of the challenge is subject to change if the weather and water conditions are unsuitable.
• Chris and Sharon have an enthusiastic support team of volunteers behind them.

The swim challenge has the support of:
• Paynesville and Lakes Entrance Coastguard
• Gippsland Ports Authority
• Gippsland Water Police
• Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre
• Lakes Entrance Life Saving Club
• Paynesville Yacht Club
• Paynesville Paddlers
• members of Ambulance Victoria
• Paynesville Neighbourhood Business Network
• Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre
• Lakes Entrance Aquadome and Recreation Centre

Open Water Safety and Survival Day program:
• Water safety and swimming skill requirements differ between indoor heated pools and the natural environment.
• The program will utilise our local natural environments of Eagle Point beach and Lake Entrance beach (lake); areas where East Gippsland children frequent for swimming and water activities.
• A 1 hour class will cover the specifics of open water swimming including adapting swimming strokes in open water, flotation and buoyancy, Personal Floatation Devices, safety around jetties and water craft, how to keep safe, and understanding environmental factors.
• The program will be accessible for over 30 East Gippsland schools; and will be available to grade 5 and 6 students in 2016.

A message from Chris:
Hi my name is Chris I am a 41 year old mum of two little red heads, a 6 year old girl and a 7 year old boy. I manage a home based Bowen Therapy business in Paynesville called Natural Health Balance. I moved to the Gippsland Lakes from Melbourne 2 years ago.

When I first moved to Paynesville I found myself sitting at the shores of the Lakes wondering if it was possible to swim through the lakes from Nungurner to Paynesville 20km. I started swimming small distances to get a feel for the lakes system its currents and conditions. As my distance increased I spent many hours contemplating the reasons and the driving force behind why I wanted to achieve this challenge.

I am passionate about the water and through many experiences in the Lakes system I found there to be many challenging variables. For example. currents, winds, dramatic weather and water changes in short periods, cold, jellyfish and other sea creatures to name a few.

Being a mother and simply living close to a large variable body of water I wanted to start a program that would educate children of the region on open water safety awareness and survival techniques. Currently the children learn water safety at the pool in a controlled environment. But would your child know what to do if caught in a current? I want to give the kids the tools they need to understand the beauty and the dangers of the Lakes in which they live and play.

Working together with the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre (BARC) and the Lakes Entrance Aquatic and Recreation Centre (LARC) we can commence this program in February 2016. Schools from Lakes Entrance through to Paynesville and surrounding East Gippsland will benefit from the program. Grade 5 and 6 children will have the opportunity to learn critical survival skills amongst suitably educated and qualified swimming educators.

If you would like more information on the program you can contact:

Marilyn Fulford (BARC) (03) 5152 5710
Jennifer Whelan (LARC) (03) 5155 3333









Fundraising For

Christine Boucher

My goal is to successfully swim 20km from Nungurner to Paynesville through the Gippsland Lakes system. I would like to raise a goal of $10,000 to fund an open water safety and survival program for the grade 5 & 6 children of East Gippsland. UPDATE: This goal was successfully achieved!

Funds Banked To

The open water safety and survival day program


Campaign Creator

Open Water safety & Survival Day Program

Paynesville, VIC



Sun, 21 Jun 2015

Sharna Stone

$ 10

Thank you so much for creating this fund-raising. I'm certain it will save lives. Thank you.

Thu, 23 Apr 2015

Martin Richardson

$ 250

Christine Here is our sponsorship contribution in the form of a donation by the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee (Love our Lakes). We wish you all the best in reaching your target and increasing safety for children in and around the Lakes. Martin

Tue, 17 Mar 2015

Annette Wolfe Barrister & Solicitor

$ 100

What an amazing initiative - congratulations on finishing the swim.

Fri, 27 Feb 2015

Peter and Sue AVERY - Paynesville

$ 20

Congratulations Sharon and Christine....From Peter and Sue Avery - Paynesville

Thu, 26 Feb 2015

John Postma

$ 100

Well done Chrissy, very proud of you xx love John

Tue, 24 Feb 2015

Mitch Young

$ 50
Mon, 23 Feb 2015

Melinda Selleck

$ 50

Awesome job. Mel Selleck

Sun, 22 Feb 2015

Grae's Automotive & Marine

$ 100

This is such a great thing you are doing for the kids in our town Chris. Good luck today.

Sun, 22 Feb 2015

Trish Perkins

$ 30
Sat, 21 Feb 2015

Susan Graham

$ 30

SINCE Jan 2015

46 

Donations

$9,020 raised

TARGET $10,000

Please support this cause

$
AUD

Fundraising For

Christine Boucher

My goal is to successfully swim 20km from Nungurner to Paynesville through the Gippsland Lakes system. I would like to raise a goal of $10,000 to fund an open water safety and survival program for the grade 5 & 6 children of East Gippsland. UPDATE: This goal was successfully achieved!

Funds Banked To

The open water safety and survival day program

Campaign Creator

Open Water safety & Survival Day Program

Paynesville, VIC

SINCE Jan 2015

46 

Donations