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PETER Wright will never forget the wailing screams coming from a mother as he gave her the dreaded news.
Her seven-year-old son had drowned and Mr Wright, a volunteer diver, had found his body.
While the Murray River drowning occurred more than two decades ago, the Corowa Rescue Squad member remembers it like yesterday and is still haunted by the memory.
“It’s just a tragedy of the job,” he said.
“It’s the noise she made that sticks in my mind.
“It was bloody gut-wrenching.”
Mr Wright has been a volunteer diver since 1980.
In that time he has recovered the bodies of several dozen people who have drowned, including a 20-month-old child at Tocumwal.
Border Rescue Squad members have recovered 13 bodies in a short stretch of the river in Albury alone.
Mr Wright joined about 20 people from organisations including the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, SES and police to launch the Respect the River campaign at Noreuil Park on Sunday.
He hopes the message gets through to swimmers and other water users and helps prevent future drownings.
“You can only begin to imagine how devastating it is when something like this occurs,” Mr Wright said.
“As a parent you just can’t begin to imagine the grief.
“You see it on the faces of the family when you attend one of these tragic events.
“It’s avoidable, it didn’t have to happen.
“This education program is fundamental to reducing drownings.
“It’s the best thing to do.”
According to Mr Wright, the worst thing people can do when they come into trouble is panic.
The strong currents and cold water of the Murray cause problems for many swimmers, as do hidden underwater snags.
Royal Lifesaving Society Australia chief executive Justin Scarr said 68 people had drowned in the Murray since 2002, making it the number one river drowning spot.
About 90 per cent were men and about 40 per cent were related to alcohol use.
Mr Wright said people shouldn’t be scared of using the river, but should be prepared in an emergency.
Albury jetskier, waterskier and swimmer Joh Payter said wearing a lifejacket was key.
“You’ve got to be prepared for what’s going to happen,” she said.
“It’s about wearing the lifejacket before you need it rather than afterwards.”
“It’s up to us as users of the river to make sure that we get the word out to people.
“If you can help somebody and keep an eye out to make sure they’re safe, it’s better for all of us.”
The campaign is being run nationwide.
