FOR a lot of youngsters in our region, the closest they'll get to Bondi Beach is when it pops up on the TV.
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But with summer right around the corner and school holidays coming with it, the beach is a likely destination for many Border families.
With that in mind, Surf Life Saving NSW has brought their Beach to Bush program to a number of schools in the Albury and Holbrook region this week.
Based on figures which revealed 50 per cent of people rescued from the surf live more than 50 kilometres from the beach, Beach to Bush facilitator Rosie Taliano said it was important that kids in regional areas understood how to use the beach safely.
“Many of the inland kids have never experienced a beach environment before,” she said.
“Some venture out to the creeks and rivers, and our objective is to teach them about some of the surf safety signs they can see around beaches and other water areas, making them aware of things like drop-offs and currents.
“Most of them aren't aware of the dangers the beach can present.
“A lot of them will visit the beach on school holidays, it's all about teaching them these skills now so they know what to expect and look out for.”
Ms Taliano and fellow surf lifesavers Nixy Krite and Andrienne Howe visited Thurgoona Public School on Wednesday, teaching students about everything from currents and rip tides to sea creatures and first aid.
With popular waterways like the Murray River and Lake Hume set for a bumper season after heavy winter rain, Ms Taliano said making sure kids had basic water safety skills was imperative.
“Obviously, the more patrols we have around water the better,” she said.
“But if we are able to spread this message, kids are aware of what to look out for and adults are as well, everyone is in a position to look out for each other.”
The Beach to Bush program is in its 23rd year being delivered across NSW, after first running in 1994.
Surf Life Saving performed 6672 rescues across NSW during the 2015/16 swimming season and have already done 176 this season.