A young Wodonga woman who swam for Australia at the Special Olympics has returned from an overseas swimming trip with something far more precious than gold medals.
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Alannah McKeown and her mother Judith were among a group of volunteers from Melbourne and the Border who spent a week in the Philippines teaching young children to swim.
The trip was organised by Wodonga's Michelle Michael after three of her nieces drowned while collecting fish from nets in their village of Tapaz.
The sisters had no swimming skills and Michelle vowed to do what she could to avoid similar tragedies in a country whose annual drowning rates are three times greater than Australia.
The LLP Project (named after Leah, Lycil and Princess) saw seven volunteers including gold medal-winning Paralympian Sam Bramham head overseas to teach children from San Julian Elementary School water safety and basic swim skills.
The group delivered more than 500 formal swimming lessons to about 135 students from the school the sisters attended and another 30 members of the public.
Dressed in donated bathers and goggles, some kids were initially terrified and their parents scared to sign forms allowing children to get in the water, Judith said.
"Alannah brought her gentle and encouraging nature to assist the beginners/clingers in the toddler pool," she said.
"She has always been at home in the water and watching as she encouraged the children to try new skills, Alannah showed that Down Syndrome is no barrier to being helpful."
By the end of the week, children who could barely dog paddle were swimming the length of the 25-metre pool, that sits on the lake where the sisters drowned.
The principal of San Julian was in tears as she thanked the group for their amazing program, Judith said.
Visiting swim coaches provided lessons plans for local school teachers and the primary school will continue swimming lessons at Lake Marugo Pool free of charge.
Meanwhile a proposal is being written to include aquatics in the PE curriculum for all public schools in the Philippines.
"A significant legacy has been left in this beautiful community," Judith said.
A second trip to the Philippines is being planned for April 2020 with Michelle determined to continue to carry on a life-saving legacy in honour of her nieces.
Judith said Alannah was keen to undertake her Austswim training and return to Tapaz as a fully qualified swim teacher.
"She has returned from this trip with a new goal, new friends, new confidence and a heart full of wonderful memories," she said.
- A movie screening of The Lion King is being held on Sunday, July 21 from 4pm to support fundraising efforts - visit the The LLP Project - Swim to Tapaz page on Facebook.