This week AlburyCity launched an inland water drowning prevention initiative titled 'Water Is No Joke'.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers that lurk in our inland waterways, and encourages behavioural change in younger males and our Cultrally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community, community who have been identified as statistically high-risk groups.
The initiative is a key action within the AlburyCity Inland Waterways Drowning Prevention Strategy, with the main message focussed on looking out for your mates while enjoying the water.
The strategy highlighted that the Noreuil Park and Lake Hume Foreshores are among the most popular places in our city to escape the summer heat, however they present a high risk of drowning due to ever changing river conditions, remoteness, consumption of alcohol or illegal substances, lack of supervision and swimming ability.
The campaign features real young people from our community, and was filmed on location at our most popular swimming spots.
The storyline focuses on young people spending time near and on the water, and highlights the importance of checking beneath the surface of the water epecially if it's fast flowing, not jumping from a height if it doesn't feel right, and swimming with a mate rather than alone.
AlburyCity Mayor Kylie King said she hopes that those in higher risk groups in our community will be able to relate to the campaign, and take something positive from it.
"We've been faced with some terrible tragedies in our region's waterways, and we need to all look after each other and make sure we do everything we can to prevent it from happening again," said Mayor King.
"I'm so proud to see the young people featured in the campaign stepping up to be involved in spreading this important message, becoming positive role models for their peers."
The campaign will run until the end of March, featuring on a variety of channels such as TV, cinema, outdoor, and social media.
The 30 second television commercial can be viewed on the AlburyCity YouTube Channel.
