LIWA Aquatics presents regional seminars in Albany and Kulin

With a three year absence in visiting the southern regions of the state due to the COVID pandemic, LIWA Aquatics has this week staged the first of two Regional WA Aquatic Recreation Seminars.

Held in Albany on Tuesday at the new Retrovision Stadium - located just a couple of minutes from the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre - the event welcomed 28 attendees along with trade exhibitors Commercial Aquatics Australia, Fluidra and International Quadratics.

The day commenced with City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington welcoming members to the city and officially opening the Seminar.

The Seminar saw Royal Life Saving WA Chief Executive, Peter Leaversuch give a preview of the latest Bigger, Better, Safer Report due to be released later in October.

Leaversuch was able to provide invaluable information about the Great Southern regions and how it compares statistically, along with the great work undertaken at these facilities and by their staff.

Tom Scott-Jones who now runs the Watch Around Water program for Royal Life Saving WA, provided the attendees an opportunity to discuss the program from a regional perspective, what works, what doesn’t so that the program can be reviewed and improved to ensure the programs continued success.

The attendees then had an opportunity for a site visit to the newly renovated Albany Leisure and Aquatics Centre which offered a lot to look at after many changes that have happened at the facility over recent years.

The group was split into two with one group touring the dry side facilities such as upgraded gym to the impressive multi-functional sports halls while the other group were taken on a tour of the aquatic facility and plantroom operations.

Both groups the swapped so that they had tour of the entire facility.

Back at Retrovision Stadium the group were able to network further over lunch and speak with the Seminar’s Trade Exhibitors.

After lunch RJ Houston, National Manager - Aquatics for Royal Life Saving Society - Australia and the Chair for the National Aquatics Industry Committee provided an up-to-date overview of the aquatics industry, and insights to how regional pool mangers and aquatic facilities fit into this system and the importance of what you do for the communities.

Flying from Melbourne to attend the seminar, Houston provided some information from Royal Life Saving’s Social Value report and what social impacts has on patrons who visit our facilities.

Sessions were completed with a presentation to showcase what the industry is building in Canada to give a view of new facilities from outside of in Australia.

Commenting on the success of the event, LIWA Aquatics Executive Officer, Steve Good advised “it was great to get back to meeting face to face again with our industries southern regional members.

“We would like to thank John and Chris from the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre for helping us host the seminar and taking us on the facility tour.

“Thank you to Peter and RJ from Royal Life Saving, our trade exhibitors and our regional board member Billy Vibart in assisting us to host a successful an engaging event.”

The second Regional WA Aquatic Recreation Seminar is being held at the Freebairn Recreation Centre in the Wheatbelt town of Kulin on Thursday 27th October.

Click here for details on the LIWA Aquatics Regional WA Aquatic Recreation Seminar in Kulin in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

With thanks to LIWA Aquatics Executive Officer, Steve Good.

Images: Tom Scott-Jones addresses the Albany Seminar (top), Seminar delegates (middle) and delegates touring the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre (below).