On Thursday 25 January 2024 a group of around 30 Indigenous kids and their carers departed from Brewarrina at 6am for the 12-hour trip to Sydney.  

Arriving at the Collaroy pool after 6pm they jumped straight into the water for swimming proficiency done by the lifesavers from South Narrabeen.  

Kristen Wright Miss World Australia 2022 was there to greet the kids as they got off the bus. 

Kristen has volunteered her time with Bush to Beach for the past four years. 

The weekend is jam packed from morning to night.  

Friday starts off at the South Narrabeen Surf Club where the kids are introduced to the President of the Surf Club Duncan Schieb and his kids, the Surf Life Savers, the ladies from the Manly Country Women’s Association and all of the volunteers.  

At around 12pm the kids took a short trip to Collaroy Beach where they met Matt Granger from the Manly Surf School and his team who donated their time to teach the kids how to surf. 

On Saturday the kids spent the day at North Narrabeen pool learning how to scuba dive with Kristen Wright (Miss World Australia) who is an International Certified Scuba Diver Instructor. Not only does Kristen donate her time and skills she also donates a set of snorkels and goggles to each kid. That night is the sit-down dinner with all the sponsors and supporters, over 110 attended the Baked Dinner. In attendance was Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins, Federal MP Dr Sophie Scamps, NSW MP Michael Regan, and state MP Rory Amon and many more. 

PHOTO: Laeisha Boney 

“Bush to Beach has come full circle, on our early Bush to Beach camps there were 3 little ladies Kaminya, Charlotte and Breanne (they called themselves the three musketeers). On this trip Breanne (now 26) sent her 2 beautiful daughters with their Grandma Belinda who was a carer. Thomas was a past Bush to Beach kid and was now a carer for this trip.” Stated Jack Cannons Founder Chairman Bush to Beach. 

It was great to see the excited faces of both the Brewarrina kids and the Nippers on the Sunday as they interacted and participated in the day with the Nippers events, Volleyball hosted by Northern Beaches Volleyball Association and plenty of Beach Cricket. 

The Bush to Beach program is in its 19th year and was created to “encourage all kids to go to school, receive an education, grow confidence and self-esteem and be the best they can be.”