At a ceremony at the Kandos Swimming Pool on Tuesday Jason French from the Orange office of NSW Sport and Recreation Department said that each year the Joy Parker Memorial Award is presented for outstanding work and dedication to the Swimsafe program.

“Over many years Mrs Keech has taught many people, both children and adults, in country areas of the state how to swim,” Mr French said.

“While based at Wilcannia as a teacher Mrs Keech came to the aid of the Swimsafe program when she come to the program’s aid so that swimming lessons could be held in Broken Hill on weekends.

“Mrs Keech travelled the 200 kilometres each way to provide those lessons and thus gave many people to opportunity to learn how to swim.

“She also came to our aid to bring the Swimsafe program to White Cliffs, a 200 kilometre round trip from her home in Wilcannia to give people in that area the opportunity to learn to swim.

“Many of those in the Swimsafe program at White Cliffs travelled up to two hours to attend her swimming lessons there.”

Member for Bathurst Gerard Martin, who presented a certificate to Mrs Keech on behalf of the the Minister for Sport and Recreation Mr Kevin Greene MP, said that Mrs Keech’s work has been greatly appreciated in the communities where she has taught people how to swim.

“Without her dedication many local children in remote communities would never have been able to learn the life time skill of swimming,” Mr Martin said.

“The Department has received numerous unsolicited letters of praise for her work in the Swimsafe program and I can think of no more worthy a winner of this very important Statewide award.”

In accepting the award from Mr French and certificate from Mr Martin, Mrs Keech said that teaching swimming was something she does for pleasure.

“It gives me great joy, it is something I have always enjoyed” Mrs Keech said.