Carers can swim for free in Blue Mountains

by StreetCorner
25/09/2011

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged. Yet national surveys show that carers have the lowest health and wellbeing of any group in our community.

Mayor, Clr Daniel Myles said, “Australia has around 2.6 million carers and nearly 770,000 of these are primary carers, that is, the person providing the majority of daily needs for their relative or friend.”

Carers Week is celebrated nationally each year in October to acknowledge and support the valuable contribution that carers make to our community.

“Carers are the foundation of our aged and community care system. Access Economics have estimated the annual replacement value of the vital care these people provide is over $40.9 billion”, continued the Mayor.

Carers Week 2011 will be held between 16 and 22 of October. Blue Mountains City Council is taking the opportunity to remind local carers that they are entitled to FREE entry to all Blue Mountains swimming pools every day of the year (Carer’s Card required on entry).

“The offer by Council of free entry to all Blue Mountains pools year round is a small gesture of appreciation for the carers in our local community”, said the Mayor.

“We hope that local carers will be able to take a bit of time out for themselves to have a swim for fitness or recreation. It is well known that swimming is a great form of stress release and respite from the often difficult and tiring role of caring.”

The Council provides pools year round at Katoomba and Springwood and seasonal pools at Blackheath, Lawson and Glenbrook.

For opening hours see www.bmleisurecentres.com.au

By Blue Mountains City Council

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