Water safety focus at free family event

A fun day in the sun at the beach with water safety the focus is happening at Cockle Bay this Sunday.

The Howick Lions Club Water Safety Picnic on March 23, 10.30am to 3pm, is a popular annual event and is put on especially with families and young people in mind.

Denis McKenna, of the Howick Lions, says it has “a strong emphasis on personal water safety”.

People representing Drowning Prevention Auckland will be attending offering advice and tips on how to be safer when in and on the water.

Activities available for children will be kayaking, a treasure hunt, and a competition called the Big Dig for Kids, with the winner receiving a fishing rod suitable for a young person.

Organisations and businesses collaborating with the Lions Club of Howick to make the event possible are Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association, Coastguard Howick, The Big Fish Bait & Tackle Co, and Scouts Aotearoa (Manukau zone).

“The Howick Coastguard volunteers have always been front and centre with us on this project as we raise funds to support them,” McKenna says.

There will be food and beverages available including hot chips, barbeque sausages and ice creams.

McKenna says the yearly Lions’ event started out being staged at Howick Beach, but it got moved to Cockle Bay Beach, “where there is more room to entertain more folks and have more fun, and to involve a number of businesses and organisations keen to be partnered with this concept”.