Water Safety Education Program marks 60 years at Hamilton North Public School
newcastle council(newcastle council)
Newy 87.8 FM – City of Newcastle's free Water Safety Education Program has celebrated its 60th anniversary at Hamilton North Public School, with the program having educated more than 800,000 participants since it began.
The program started in 1966 with beach inspectors John Young and Kevin Mongan teaching children about safe surf practices and beach behaviour.
Six decades on, the eight-week program also covers pools and open bodies of water, with City of Newcastle lifeguards visiting 50 schools across Newcastle each year.
Lifeguard Sam Biddle said he took part in the program as a student and has been involved in its delivery for more than 10 years. He said the program runs over eight weeks in Term 3 so children are prepared for the spring and summer swimming seasons.
Surf Life Saving Australia's 2025/26 Summer Report recorded 50 coastal drowning deaths across the country, with the majority in regional and remote locations.
City of Newcastle's Acting Executive Manager Community and Recreation Donna McGovern said 66 per cent of coastal drowning deaths occurred more than one kilometre from a patrolled location, and lifeguards commit more than 700 hours each year to the program.
Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said new citizens who move to Newcastle for its coastline are often disproportionately represented in drowning statistics, and the program covers the beach, pools and open bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and dams.
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