WE MUST MAKE THIS RIVER SAFE
May 18, 2007-Perthshire Avertiser

A PERTHSHIRE woman who lost her brother in a tragic Tay incident has launched a charity to help prevent more lives being lost.

Lisa Stuart, sister of Graham Motion who drowned in the Tay last July, is keen to ensure lessons of the dangers of the River Tay are learned by local residents. She told the PA: “After what happened to my brother last year we realised there was no water safety strategy in place, or anything like it, in Perth to educate people.

“We are trying to develop that and make this a safe community for all.”

Lisa is establishing the ‘Safe-Tay in Perth’ charity – a voluntary group dedicated to promoting water safety and preventing future tragedies – and is keen to hear from anyone interested in helping out.

She appealed: “Please help us reach our community with our simple message of water safety and keep our community safe from injury.”

Lisa explained: “It’s early days yet and we’re not sure what directions we are going to take, but it could include things like going into schools to education children on water safety and the dangers of water, or raising funds for the purchase of equipment or advisory material to promote safety.”

Other innovative ideas include the production of a poster and beer-mat campaign to raise awareness of the potentially catastrophic consequences of drinking which Safe-Tay has been working on with David Black of Tayside Fire and Rescue Service’s community team.

But, Lisa stressed, at this stage it is people power the group needs most – no financial contributions can be accepted until Safe-Tay has full Registered Charity status.

Also keen to help other families who have lost loved ones to the river, Lisa added that Safe-Tay can provide a forum for others to find out what work is going on to safeguard lives and prevent future tragedies.