The Remote Pools Project

A note from Chief Smuggler, Linny.

It was a Sunday arvo sitting on the couch with the dulcet tones of ABC Landline (a show I weirdly love) when I stumbled upon an ABC News story about pools in remote communities.

It mentioned how some pools had closed following a tragic drowning and how the Y Northern Territory’s Remote Pools project, led by former elite swimmer Kurt Herzog, alongside a committed team and the help of locals, were looking to re-open them and keep them open.

Ltyentye Apurte’s community pool, with its proudly green grass

Classic Own Goal

It is one of those classic own goals by a government.

While it’s understandable to want to remove the risk of another drowning, closing a pool and leaving the community members, especially kids, less capable of swimming, doesn’t add up long-term.

And yes, pools are expensive operations to run, but if our governments can find $4,000 per day to treat people in hospitals, $3,200 per day to keep kids in jail (yep, that’s over $1m per kid per annum), why can’t governments find the money to operate a community pool? In writing this I note the important role of local councils as the major backers of the pools, but it’s a head-shaker that there’s not a firm long-term federal government commitment.

It’s easy to whinge but I reached out to see if Budgy Smuggler could contribute in some way. This began what is now our largest ever community contribution...

A swimming lesson for Utju’s school kids

We’ve committed over $100k over the next 2 x years (half in cash & half in kind) to help facilitate free swimming lessons for 18 months across 4 communities. The communities stretch across an area twice the size of France & there are now 7 pools operated by Y Northern Territory’s Remote Pools!

This builds on other health & community initiatives we’re supporting like Tri Mob as well as a broader commitment to mental health initiatives like Mullet from Mental Health (and keep an eye out for a major campaign soon to launch with Lifeline & Rebel).

Remote Pools employed 56 local Aboriginal community members over the past year, including Terry Alice, the pool’s first Eastern Arrernte pool coordinator

Why it matters?

Health: You don’t have to be a doctor to know that swimming improves health and in remote communities it helps to reduce the rates of otherwise rare diseases like chronic ear & eye infections like trachoma.
Economics: Community pools are mini economic engines with various jobs from lifeguards to maintenance. It’s also a lever to boost school attendance and long term economic prosperity. There are 56 locals employed across the Y Northern Territory’s remote pools.
Fun & Community: At Budgy Smuggler we love a good time & sharing that with others. Pools are great fun and we love that at the heart of our country our kids & community living in remote areas get to enjoy jumping in the pool on a hot day

Before & After

Ngukurr pool before and after it was re-opened (it had been shut for a year beforehand)

Three things we really love about the Remote Pools Project:

Smiles: There’s nothing better than a kid with an ear to ear grin as they leap into the pool.
Elders Aqua Aerobics: It’s not just the kids… they’ve just launched a program for clients of local aged care services to keep fit, which they want to roll out across all communities next season.
Two Way Learning: They engage a rotation of volunteer swim teachers who are largely non-Indigenous & will take home so much learning from their time in community

Local lifeguard Belinda, alongside Utju pool’s regulars

What are the big picture goals of the Remote Pools Project?

For the current season the goal is to keep pools open and safe across seven communities. Longer term, there is still plenty of appetite and need for pools to be built or reopened in other communities; their team has received five requests for support in less than a year.

How You Can Help

Follow the Remote Pools Project on Instagram

Of course, you can contribute directly to the cause by donating here. We’ll also look to do a specific collection later in the year in support of Remote Pools.

Sign up to volunteer as a swim teacher or on their summer holiday program - applications close 30th June.

Some local Utju ladies at this year’s end-of-season party

Very Niche Ways to Help

Cost-Benefit Analysis: If there’s someone reading this from a Big 4 or major accounting firm, there doesn’t seem to be a cost-benefit analysis that exists on the importance of remote pools.

Philanthropists: Here’s an opportunity to make an impact in the heart of our country.

Major Government Backing: If there’s someone in Albo or the Chief Minister’s Staff team reading this, then surely there is a role for government. The current funding for day-to-day operations comes largely from local government, local Aboriginal corporations, philanthropists and the Y Northern Territory reinvesting in facilities themselves.

Okay, that’s a wrap with a lot of information but we wanted to share with you all the bigger picture of what we’re trying to achieve in backing the work of Y Northern Territory's Remote Pools Project.

Smugglers, each of you is helping us to build a stronger Australia and we love yas,

Linny