Splash: Hillarys Primary School celebrates naming Swan Canning Riverpark dolphin calf

HILLARYS Primary School held a special assembly to celebrate the naming of the Swan Canning Riverpark’s new resident dolphin calf.

Students chose the name `Splash after the Perth Children’s Hospital’s The Big Splash WA campaign, which helped students to develop and practice good mental health.

MORE: Hillarys PS helps promote Big Splash WA

Representatives from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Dolphin Watch project and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) attended to congratulate the school.

The school also presented the hospital’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit with $525, which was collected via gold coin donation from the students.

DBCA volunteers and community manager Jason Menzies said the winning name would be incorporated into the official Dolphin Watch FinBook – an identification catalogue for the Swan Canning Riverpark’s resident dolphin population.

Hillarys PS health and physical education team leader Karen Armstrong said the name Splash was chosen by students and teachers as it served as a reminder of the campaign.

“As a school, childhood mental health is a priority both in supporting our own students to develop and practice good mental health and also in raising awareness and supporting others,” she said.

“The assembly was a lovely way to reflect on our school’s Big Splash WA journey.

“It has provided an opportunity for great conversations about mental health and also to have a lot of fun as a school community.”

As part of its involvement in the campaign, the school took part in a range of activities and challenges including decorating a dolphin calf sculpture, the whole school Dolphin Pod challenge where they created a dolphin using students for an aerial photo, taking on the Dolphin Dance challenge and inviting families to attend The Big Splash WA Farewell Celebration.

PCHF head of fundraising Ian De Nazareth said Hillarys PS deserved to name the dolphin calf.

“In recognition of its excellent efforts, Hillarys Primary School was awarded the Junior School Big Splash Award WA for `outstanding commitment to raising child and adolescent mental health awareness through The Big Splash WA campaign,” he said.