During the harvest of 2010, as floodwaters swept through Armatree in regional NSW, a group of local farmers swapped their Akubras and transformed into the "Baywatch" crew, keeping the town safe, at least in spirit. More than a decade later, Armatree’s own Peta Bradley is doing something just as unexpected, swapping the paddocks for icy waters and a world championship in extreme swimming.

Peta Bradley knows a thing or two about water. The world champion ice swimmer, who grew up in the tiny NSW town of Armatree, has spent years training her body and mind to withstand some of the harshest swimming conditions on the planet.

Competing in water just above freezing, Bradley’s resilience and discipline have earned her international recognition.

While she is not making any big announcements just yet, she has been reflecting on what she has seen overseas and how it compares to Australia’s approach to water safety.

With Australia’s drowning toll rising, recent figures show a concerning increase in beach and inland waterway fatalities. Bradley has been thinking about the role swimming culture plays in survival.

She was particularly struck by her time overseas, where she noticed a stark difference in how people engage with water. “In Australia, even in small country towns, people are doing laps and swimming properly. But in some places I visited, I saw people just paddling, not really swimming in the way we take for granted,” she said.

Bradley believes this cultural difference may contribute to drowning statistics and highlights the importance of structured swimming education from an early age. “It is not just about being able to float or paddle. It is about understanding how to move through the water with confidence and knowing what to do in an emergency,” she explains.

Her observations align with ongoing discussions in Kiama about improving water safety education. Local surf clubs, emergency responders and community leaders are exploring ways to better prepare residents, particularly those who may not have grown up near the ocean, for the risks posed by unpredictable water conditions.

Although Bradley is best known for her ice swimming feats, she has always been passionate about water safety. Growing up in regional NSW, she learned early how to read water conditions and stay safe in unpredictable environments. In her town of 500, earning a Bronze Medallion was a rite of passage for many local kids.

This was taught by a community member who had personal experience with a water-related accident in the family. With access to rivers and farm dams, water safety education became an important element for many families in the area. That knowledge, she says, is something all young Australians should have access to, regardless of where they live or their background. 

"One thing that ice swimming has taught me is respect for cold water and the impact it can have on your body and how quickly that can take effect. That holds true not just for cold water but all water - you have to have respect for the conditions." Peta Bradley

While she has not yet committed to any official role in local water safety efforts, Bradley’s experiences and insights are already creating interest among schools and community groups. Her global perspective, combined with her deep roots in rural Australia, offers a unique lens on why swimming education should be prioritised.

One thing is clear. Peta Bradley is not just about winning medals. She is about reinforcing a message that has been echoed for years but is still not getting through. Water safety education needs to be a priority, and her experiences are helping highlight why it cannot wait any longer.