Two important skills: reading and swimming

THE Chronicle is currently running two things close to my heart.

Today you have the chance to buy an ultimate classic with your paper, The Enchanted Wood.

Enid Blyton is a master storyteller and the author of some of my favourite novels growing up.

Some of these books are now almost 80 years old and (besides a few minor revisions) are still enchanting readers of all ages.

Our story on Page 2 highlights the issue that many children are struggling with literacy and are under-prepared when they start school.

So parents, get reading with your kids and go on an adventure with Jo, Bessie and Frannie.

My second passion is the the joint S.O.S. campaign to “Save Our Schoolkids”.

I had to learn to swim at a young age as we lived on a property with a dam.

This love of swimming continued and I got my Bronze Star and Medallion and became an Austswim teacher while I was at university.

I often taught older children who had never learnt to swim before and watching them become confident in the water was thrilling, because I knew they were learning a life skill that potentially could save their life one day.

So I am all for children having better access to swimming lessons with water safety and survival lessons a priority for primary students.