Narre Warren mother of three and YMCA aquatic education teacher Kylie Lehman launched her first children’s book this week inspired by the tragic drowning of her brother-in-law.By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren mother of three has launched a children’s book inspired by the tragic drowning of her brother-in-law.
Kylie Lehman, a YMCA aquatic education teacher at Casey ARC, has written a story that carries a strong message about the importance of learning water safety skills.
Shelly the Shrimp and her AquaSafe Friends tells the tale of a young shrimp as she learns how to swim safely in the ocean, and is designed for children aged five to nine and their parents.
Ms Lehman said she had written the book in the hope that drowning deaths could be prevented.
In October 2000 Justin Lehman, 22, drowned at Perth’s Cottesloe beach after becoming caught in a rip while bodysurfing and not knowing how to swim out of it.
This loss led Ms Lehman to research the training on offer to improve her own beach-loving family’s water safety skills and she then decided to enrol in the YMCA’s aquatic education program.
The 31-year-old shares the personal loss behind the story’s conception in the introduction to the book.
She wrote that after Justin’s funeral it took a while for her to absorb what had happened and she also found it difficult to comprehend that many other families had felt the same anguish and confusion over the death of a loved one that could have been prevented.
It was the combination of this, the loss of Justin and her experience as a parent that inspired the characters and storyline for Shelly and her AquaSafe Friends. Shelly and her sea creature friends go through a series of trials and tribulations before learning how to swim safely. This incident also led her to make a life-changing career move from banker to swim teacher and children’s author.
Ms Lehman has now donated the story and proceeds of the book’s sales to the YMCA to enable disadvantaged children to learn to be safe in and around water through the Y’s AquaSafe aquatic education program.
“The YMCA AquaSafe program also impressed me by how it not only teaches swimming and stroke development, but also essential safety skills needed in all water environments, while instilling confidence, life skills and personal values as well,” she said.
YMCA Victoria Casey ARC manager Amanda Ashton said this year 259 people had drowned in Australia, 46 of them children aged 14 and under.
“That’s 46 too many — with all of these deaths preventable if parents and children knew how to be safe when they’re in or around water.
“Both the children who read this book and those who benefit from its proceeds will be one step closer to enjoying a lifetime of fun in and around water — safely,” Ms Ashton said.
Shelly the Shrimp and her AquaSafe Friends (recommended price $9.95) is dedicated to the memory of Justin Lehman and is available through the YMCA Estore at www.ystore.-com.au and at major retail outlets, bookstores and newsagents.
