Weilmoringle swimmers take Sydney by storm

Soaking up the atmosphere at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre – Aboriginal Education Officer Stacey Nean, Kaydence Samuels, Jamarh Hart, D’Mitri Samuels, Ryne Brown, School Principal Robyn Watson, and School Administration Manager Shenae Mann. Photo supplied

Students from Weilmoringle Public School have stirred up a media storm with their epic journey to the NSW Primary School Sports Association swimming championships in Sydney.

Weilmoringle Public School’s relay team earned a place in the state swimming championships, despite coming from one of the most isolated schools in NSW and having a total enrolment of five students.

The team’s journey to glory began last year when the school decided to vary its hours so it could devote half-a-day per week to swimming lessons at the nearest pool at Brewarrina – a 200km round trip away.

However, the journey to their place in the state championship in Sydney last week has been very eventful.

“Our relay team had success at the Small Schools Carnival at Bourke, and then won the district competition,” Principal of Weilmoringle School, Robyn Watson said.

“We came third in the next comp at Dubbo which meant we had made it to Sydney.”

Of the five students from years 4 – 6, one is a non-swimmer (but a keen supporter!).

The school and the community were extremely excited about their trip to Sydney but the weekend before the competition, things took an unexpected turn.

“Everyone was thrilled about the competition but then, one of our relay team had an accident and broke his wrist. It was devastating for him, the community, staff, and students,” Ms Watson said. […]

Read more in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

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