Indigenous school children from western New South Wales have taken a dip in the ocean for the first time — a welcome change after nine weeks of isolation due to flooding.
About 40 students from Brewarrina and surrounding towns in north-western New South Wales travelled more than 700 kilometres with a group of carers to South Narrabeen in northern Sydney.
They are taking part in a volunteer-led bush-to-beach program, which resumed for the first time since 2020 after it was put on hold due to COVID-19 and flooding.
The children, aged eight to 15, will spend the weekend learning important beach safety skills, CPR, and how to surf and snorkel.
"I'm very happy and I want to live down here because it's so fun down here," Nevaeh said.
"I'm learning how to surf and making new friends."
The kids have to have good school attendance to join the trip, which aims to give them a taste of beach culture.
About 1,000 meals will be served as volunteers work hard to make it happen.
Founder still emotional
The program was launched in 2006 but founder Jack Cannons said the experience still made him emotional.
"It brings a tear to my eye every time," he said.
"I'm looking forward to 10 years' time when I can go out and see them as young adults and being a great part of their community."
Despite spending nearly 10 hours on a bus to get to the beach, nine-year-old Hazel said it was worth it for a swim.
"My town is small but here it's big. We don't have a beach [at Brewarrina]," she said.
"I went snorkelling and I saw a turtle, a hermit crab and a couple of fish."
Children finding inspiration
Local South Narabeen surf lifesaver Brian Grundy said the program had an "amazing" effect on the kids, helping inspire them to achieve goals.
"We've gone from just a couple of kids getting through to year 11 and 12. Now, I think there's 16 or 17," he said.
"We've had kids set up their own mechanic shops or they've gone to uni and done law."
Mr Cannons hoped to expand the program to more western NSW communities over the next couple of years.
"I want this to go right around the country, surf clubs and communities adopting bush towns and just becoming mates," he said.
