Before Aquamoves was opened in 1997, swimming during hot summer months was either carried out in Lake Victoria or, for those living in the outlying towns where the irrigation channels existed, channel swimming was where most kids learned to swim.
Notwithstanding the leeches and mud and the occasional snake, the water was cool and available. Growing up in Stanhope, I can remember sitting under the flow of water over the barriers with a bunch of other kids similar to what is shown in these photos.
For those living in Shepparton however, Lake Victoria was the place to go for a swim and now, people either have a pool in the backyard or go to Aquamoves.
For a lot of country kids however, learning to swim in a channel was all they had.
