November 16, 2025 • 27 mins
It's finally starting to feel like summer! It's the best time of the year because you can go swimming in the pool, at the beach or at the river, with your friends or family. Swimming can be lots of fun but it also comes with risks that you need to know about. Geraldine and Rebecca tell some stories to remind you of how to be safe around water.
They also splash through some fun songs, do some Aussie maths and learn new big words (when they're not accidentally falling into pools). So put on your swimmers, get your goggles and get ready to dive in!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:13):
One, two, three. It's happy pants.
S2 (00:30):
G'day, and welcome to Happy Pants, a show especially for
kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.
S3 (00:38):
And my name is Rebecca. And together we are your
happy pants team for today.
S2 (00:45):
Are you wearing your happy pants today? We are. Mine
are a soft shade of pink, and this color reminds
me of the taste of ripe strawberries and ice cream.
S3 (00:56):
Oh, yum. My happy pants are pink too. The kind
of pink that makes me think of the way kittens
ears feel as I stroke them. And that reminds me,
why are your happy pants wet? And why are you
holding what looks like a wet and very wriggly towel.
S2 (01:14):
Well, it's simple really. I was looking out the window
at the water lilies blooming in the pond, and I
noticed the new pup from down the road chasing a butterfly.
The butterfly was dancing just out of reach and the
pup was jumping to try and catch it. I could
see what was going to happen, of course, but it
(01:35):
all came to pieces before I could get there.
S3 (01:38):
Oh, I can guess. The butterfly flew over the pond.
The pup jumped to catch it and fell into the water.
And you waded in to the rescue.
S2 (01:49):
The lily leaves cover all the water, so I reckon
the pup must have thought it was solid ground. Anyway,
in it went, and then couldn't get out through the
lily pads. So by the time I'd grabbed a towel
and waded out to the pup, it was thoroughly wet,
quite muddy and very frightened. It's a he, by the way,
(02:11):
but I don't know its name, so I'll just call
it pup.
S3 (02:15):
Oh, how about I get the hair dryer and then
we can try the pair of you?
S2 (02:19):
Well, that's a good idea. When pups dry, we can
return him to his owner. Someone must have left their
gate open. Well, lucky we aren't on a busy road.
S3 (02:30):
Indeed. Well, in the meantime, I think we should check
our happy pants pockets. They're always filled with clues about
what we should talk about.
S2 (02:38):
I'll just wrap up, up and get snuggled down on
my nice warm chair while I check my pocket. Number one. Oh,
good heavens, it's a pool noodle. I'm not going back
into that pond, though.
S3 (02:54):
Oh, well, if you do, I'll just put on this
tie on cap and blow the whistle that came with it.
They were in my number one pocket.
S2 (03:04):
Pocket number two. It's a big pack of something all
folded up. It's green. It's a crocodile. A big blow
up floatie.
S3 (03:17):
Oh, a bit big for our pond. We could use
it on the river, though. My next pocket has just
what I want for my next day at the beach. Flippers,
goggles and a snorkel.
S2 (04:51):
Rebecca, let's have another look at those pocket clues and
see if we can put them together. And there was
a pool noodle.
S3 (04:58):
A brightly colored tie on cap and a whistle.
S2 (05:02):
A big crocodile shaped Floatie.
S3 (05:06):
Flippers, goggles, and a snorkel. It's not very hard to
work out. They are all things we can use when
we go swimming.
S2 (05:14):
Except the whistle.
S3 (05:16):
Ah, yes. Um, that came with a cap. Our red
and yellow tie on cap. Hmm. Now, who would want
a whistle and a tie on cap?
S2 (05:27):
Well, at our local swimming pool, there's always someone on guard.
Just in case someone gets into trouble in the water.
And that person wears a bright cap so that everyone
knows who they are and what their job is. They
blow the whistle when they need to get everyone's attention.
S3 (05:46):
So if all those clues were about swimming and the
cap and whistle were for the lifeguard, and the lifeguard
keeps swimmers safe, I reckon we're supposed to talk about
how to be safe when you're swimming.
S4 (07:32):
Nothing can stop me when I'm wearing my happy pants.
S2 (07:37):
Let's see if we remember any of the pool rules
from when we were learning to swim. I remember the
first one. Never go swimming alone.
S3 (07:47):
Not only have someone with you, but make sure that
the someone would be able to rescue you if you
got into trouble. Your little brother or sister might be
fun to play with, but could they rescue you? Could
you rescue them? You need an adult for that.
S2 (08:03):
In fact, never go near the pool without some grown
up with you. We were taught that the pool fence
is there to keep you and any other children safe.
So don't open the gate or climb the fence. Even
if your favorite ball does, go over into the pool.
S3 (08:23):
Were you taught about pool manners? We were. We often
had friends for pool parties, and dad said silly games
might be fun for you. But what about other kids
who can't swim as well as you can? So bombing
and ducking games were banned in our pool.
S2 (08:39):
Swimming pools aren't the only watery places where you need
to be careful to stay safe. Ponds and lakes have hazards, too.
S3 (08:50):
Big word alert. A hazard is something which is dangerous
and might cause you harm. And I know just what
you mean about ponds and lakes.
S2 (09:01):
Uh oh. Did you run into trouble when you were
a kid?
S3 (09:04):
Oh, did I ever. And I wasn't even a kid.
I like to go for a walk early in the
morning so I can watch the sun come up and
hear the dawn chorus. As all the local birds greet
the day. There's a big lake where I live. And
there is a track around it which only a few
people use early in the morning. This particular day there
(09:25):
was a brisk breeze and it snatched my hat and
cartwheeled it over the reed bank into the water.
S2 (09:33):
Uh, you didn't go in after it, did you?
S3 (09:37):
Well, I did, and it was my favorite hat, and
the wind was floating it further and further away. Firstly,
the edge was very slippery, and before I had time
to get my balance, both feet shot out from under me.
And down I went on my sit me down into
the mud. I really wanted to get my hat back
so I struggled to, my feet covered with mud and
(09:59):
sloshed in after it. Oh, of course, the water was
muddy and I couldn't see the bottom, but I just
kept on going. Just as I caught up with my hat,
disaster struck.
S2 (10:10):
Oh, dear. What happened? Rebecca?
S3 (10:13):
Oh, Geraldine. Because I couldn't see the bottom. I didn't
know that the lake became much deeper, further out, and
I'd reached the deep bit. I went in up to
my armpits. Well, that might have been okay, but the
bottom was deep, sticky mud, and my feet were buried
in nearly up to my knees. And the more I struggled,
(10:36):
the deeper they went.
S2 (10:37):
Oh, how on earth did you get out?
S3 (10:40):
Well, I didn't for a while. Um, I was soaked,
I was stuck, and there was no one around to
help me. To make matters worse, a couple of kookaburras
started up laughing. Then some of the wallabies that graze
around the lake came down and lined up along the
edge to see what the cookers were laughing at. I
swear they were laughing too. Then, to add insult to injury,
(11:05):
a flock of cockatoos settled in the paperbarks and they
had a right old laugh as well. They shrieked and
cackled while I shivered. Then suddenly everything birds and wallabies
took off.
S2 (11:21):
Rescue had arrived.
S3 (11:22):
Yes. At last the council mowing team had turned up
with their big machines to mow the grass around the lake. Well,
they dragged me out and they had a good laugh. Also.
S2 (12:53):
Did you rescue your hat?
S3 (12:56):
Ah, I did. I also learned the hard way that
all the things about slippery edges, sticky mud and suddenly
deep water that we were warned about when we were
kids were real. And I should have remembered them.
S2 (13:12):
Streams and rivers are like that too. Not only do
they have slippery, steep banks, but they often have strong
currents which can sweep an unwary swimmer away.
S3 (13:24):
There are also things like rocks and dead trees under
the water. The best bet is if you want to
get into the cool in the river, is to stick
to the shallow bits where you can see the bottom
and never go in by yourself.
S2 (13:38):
Rebecca. Those creatures that thought you went into the lake
just to give them a good laugh. How many were there?
S3 (13:47):
Hmm. Right. Okay, so there were two kookaburras and then
there were two. There were seven wallabies and I'd say
about 20 cockatoos.
S2 (13:58):
So how many altogether?
S3 (14:00):
Well two kookaburras seven Wallabies. That makes nine and 20 cockatoos.
20 and nine makes 29.
S2 (14:10):
Quite an audience. If the Wallabies hopped off. How many
birds would be left?
S3 (14:16):
Easy. Two cookers and 20 cockies comes to 22 noisy birds.
S2 (14:23):
So if the wallabies went off to collect some friends
and they came back with two kangaroos and an emu,
how many animals would be laughing at you then?
S3 (14:36):
Well, this is getting complicated. Ah, so there were 29
animals to start with. The wallabies did hop off, but
they did come back. So that's still 29. Add two
Kangas and one emu. So 29 plus two is 1031
plus one. You get to 3232. Geraldine.
S2 (14:59):
Quite an audience, but it was a free show though
you could have made a small fortune if you'd sold tickets.
S3 (15:07):
Yeah, I'd be swimming in it.
S2 (15:10):
That reminds me, what did the sea say to the swimmer?
S3 (15:15):
Oh, this will be a very wet joke, but what
did the sea say to the swimmer, Geraldine?
S2 (15:22):
Nothing. It just waved.
S3 (15:24):
Ah ha ha ha! Well. My turn. What kind of
race is never run?
S2 (15:31):
Not a clue. Bec.
S3 (15:33):
What a swimming race. Oh, and why do sharks only
swim in saltwater?
S2 (15:40):
Well, pepper water would make them sneeze.
S3 (15:43):
Oh, okay. After that, I think I need a bit
of time out.
S2 (15:49):
Sounds good. Let's relax and let our imaginations tell us
what the music is saying. Find a comfortable place and
just float along as if you are a leaf on
a lovely river. Let the current carry you along under
a warm sun. Maybe you will come to some rapids
(16:11):
where the current will spin you round between the rocks.
But you're quite safe. And then you float out onto
a calm, warm pool. At last you come to rest
on a warm, sandy, safe bank.
S3 (19:08):
Our story today is about Katie, a youngster who has
always lived in the bush and is used to bush
things when she has to go to the coast to live.
She finds that things are very different and she nearly
makes a dreadful mistake.
S2 (19:28):
Look before you leap. Come on. Katie called Katie's mum.
Katie scrambled into mum's pouch and poked her head out
for one last look Looking around, she saw the drooping,
wilted leaves on the gum trees and the dead grass.
She looked at the dry waterhole with just one tiny
(19:49):
patch of damp mud in the bottom of what used
to be a stream. She was leaving her home in
the bush. But Mum and dad had promised that they
would come back if it ever rained again. The family
was going to stay with Aunty Kath at a place
called coast for days. The family kept moving following the
(20:12):
dry stream. Down, down, down from the hills towards coast.
Dad sometimes found a damp patch of sand in the
stream bed and scraped it out with his front paws,
until a little bit of muddy water formed and the
family could have a drink. At last the stream bed
(20:32):
levelled out. Nearly there, said mum. Only one day more,
said dad, and on they went. Next morning, when Katie
peeped out of mum's pouch, there was the stream bed,
but it was full of water. Katie scrambled out and
(20:53):
raced to get a drink. Katie, don't drink that! Yelled dad.
But it was too late. Katie had already swallowed as
big a drink as she could get in one go.
It was salt water as quickly as it had gone down.
Up it came again. Katie was very sick and twice
(21:17):
as thirsty as before. Dad explained that when streams get
down to the place called coast, they're close to the sea.
Sea is very salty and it creeps into the end
of the stream. So the stream gets salty too. Katie
(21:37):
would have to wait for a proper drink until they
got to Auntie Kath's split. Auntie Kath lived near lots
of humans in a place called Park Park where there
was lots of sweet water. The water humans used came
from pipes and hoses and they turned on things called
(21:58):
taps to get it. They even had big water holes
they called lakes. They used their pipes and hoses to
grow lots of green grass. So families like mum and
dad and Katie could feed on it. Auntie Kath was
waiting for them and led the family through the lush
green trees of Park to Lake for a drink. Then
(22:21):
they all fed on the thick, green, juicy grass until
they couldn't fit in another bite. The family were so
tired after their long trip that they lay down in
the warm sun for a long, restful snooze. When Katy woke,
she couldn't believe her eyes. Right in front of her,
(22:45):
over the beautiful green grass and a strip of yellow
sand was the biggest waterhole she'd ever seen. It was
much bigger than the little waterhole back in the bush.
It was so big that she couldn't see the other side.
Katy couldn't wait to paddle her feet, wash her face
and have a nice long drink. So off she hopped
(23:07):
flat out over the grass, through the sand, up and
over some rocks, and with one gigantic leap into the
big pool, she went. Back home in bush, the pool
only came up to her knees. At coast it was
way over her head. Back in bush, the bottom of
(23:32):
the waterhole was sandy with small pebbles. At coast it
was squishy seaweed which grabbed her feet and held her
under the water. Back in bush, the stream, when it
was running flowed gently along at coast. The water pushed
(23:52):
and pulled, banging her against the rocks, then pulling her
back again. Katie kicked and kicked and just when she
had no breath, left the seaweed let her go and
she popped to the surface and they're swimming towards her
was dad. Swim, Katie? Swim called dad. I can't swim,
(24:18):
gasped Katie. Oh, of course you can, said dad. All
kangaroos can swim when they have to. When you're on land,
you hop both feet together when you're in the water,
it's pedal with your front paws and kick with your
back legs one after the other. That's my girl. See?
(24:39):
You can swim. Good girl. Katie was amazed. She was
indeed swimming and she swam beside dad all the way
back to the beach where mum was waiting. Mum, I
can swim, said Katie as mum bundled her into a
(24:59):
nice warm dry pouch. Mum, dad, said Katie as she
snuggled down. I promise that next time I go swimming
I will wait for you to come with me and
I will check things out before I jump in and
I will definitely, positively look before I leap.
S3 (25:25):
That was a reading of Look Before You Leap by
George Carlin. The reader was Geraldine.
S2 (25:31):
So what have we done today?
S3 (25:34):
We had one big word hazard. A hazard is something
which is dangerous and may cause you harm.
S2 (25:40):
We talked about how to stay safe around water.
S3 (25:44):
And we had a story about Katie, a young Joey
who knew a lot about being safe in the bush,
but nearly came to grief because she forgot that something
which is safe in one place may be hazardous in another.
Katie learned that it makes sense to check things out
before acting.
S2 (26:04):
If there was anything in today's program about which you
would like to know more, you can find us on
radio at Vision Australia.
S3 (26:14):
Hey, Geraldine, is the pup dry yet? We should take
him home.
S2 (26:17):
He's fast asleep. I'll keep him wrapped up until we
hand him over. I wonder if he learned that although
chasing butterflies is fun. It pays to look where he's
about to leap.
S3 (26:32):
I wonder if that butterfly flew over the pond on purpose.
S2 (26:35):
Hmm.
S3 (26:37):
Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.
S5 (26:54):
Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk
Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first Australians and the traditional owners
of the land. Across our working area, we pay our
respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures,
countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters.
Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and
(27:18):
richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
Happy pants has been made possible with the support of
the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
One, two, three. It's happy pants.
S2 (00:30):
G'day, and welcome to Happy Pants, a show especially for
kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.
S3 (00:38):
And my name is Rebecca. And together we are your
happy pants team for today.
S2 (00:45):
Are you wearing your happy pants today? We are. Mine
are a soft shade of pink, and this color reminds
me of the taste of ripe strawberries and ice cream.
S3 (00:56):
Oh, yum. My happy pants are pink too. The kind
of pink that makes me think of the way kittens
ears feel as I stroke them. And that reminds me,
why are your happy pants wet? And why are you
holding what looks like a wet and very wriggly towel.
S2 (01:14):
Well, it's simple really. I was looking out the window
at the water lilies blooming in the pond, and I
noticed the new pup from down the road chasing a butterfly.
The butterfly was dancing just out of reach and the
pup was jumping to try and catch it. I could
see what was going to happen, of course, but it
(01:35):
all came to pieces before I could get there.
S3 (01:38):
Oh, I can guess. The butterfly flew over the pond.
The pup jumped to catch it and fell into the water.
And you waded in to the rescue.
S2 (01:49):
The lily leaves cover all the water, so I reckon
the pup must have thought it was solid ground. Anyway,
in it went, and then couldn't get out through the
lily pads. So by the time I'd grabbed a towel
and waded out to the pup, it was thoroughly wet,
quite muddy and very frightened. It's a he, by the way,
(02:11):
but I don't know its name, so I'll just call
it pup.
S3 (02:15):
Oh, how about I get the hair dryer and then
we can try the pair of you?
S2 (02:19):
Well, that's a good idea. When pups dry, we can
return him to his owner. Someone must have left their
gate open. Well, lucky we aren't on a busy road.
S3 (02:30):
Indeed. Well, in the meantime, I think we should check
our happy pants pockets. They're always filled with clues about
what we should talk about.
S2 (02:38):
I'll just wrap up, up and get snuggled down on
my nice warm chair while I check my pocket. Number one. Oh,
good heavens, it's a pool noodle. I'm not going back
into that pond, though.
S3 (02:54):
Oh, well, if you do, I'll just put on this
tie on cap and blow the whistle that came with it.
They were in my number one pocket.
S2 (03:04):
Pocket number two. It's a big pack of something all
folded up. It's green. It's a crocodile. A big blow
up floatie.
S3 (03:17):
Oh, a bit big for our pond. We could use
it on the river, though. My next pocket has just
what I want for my next day at the beach. Flippers,
goggles and a snorkel.
S2 (04:51):
Rebecca, let's have another look at those pocket clues and
see if we can put them together. And there was
a pool noodle.
S3 (04:58):
A brightly colored tie on cap and a whistle.
S2 (05:02):
A big crocodile shaped Floatie.
S3 (05:06):
Flippers, goggles, and a snorkel. It's not very hard to
work out. They are all things we can use when
we go swimming.
S2 (05:14):
Except the whistle.
S3 (05:16):
Ah, yes. Um, that came with a cap. Our red
and yellow tie on cap. Hmm. Now, who would want
a whistle and a tie on cap?
S2 (05:27):
Well, at our local swimming pool, there's always someone on guard.
Just in case someone gets into trouble in the water.
And that person wears a bright cap so that everyone
knows who they are and what their job is. They
blow the whistle when they need to get everyone's attention.
S3 (05:46):
So if all those clues were about swimming and the
cap and whistle were for the lifeguard, and the lifeguard
keeps swimmers safe, I reckon we're supposed to talk about
how to be safe when you're swimming.
S4 (07:32):
Nothing can stop me when I'm wearing my happy pants.
S2 (07:37):
Let's see if we remember any of the pool rules
from when we were learning to swim. I remember the
first one. Never go swimming alone.
S3 (07:47):
Not only have someone with you, but make sure that
the someone would be able to rescue you if you
got into trouble. Your little brother or sister might be
fun to play with, but could they rescue you? Could
you rescue them? You need an adult for that.
S2 (08:03):
In fact, never go near the pool without some grown
up with you. We were taught that the pool fence
is there to keep you and any other children safe.
So don't open the gate or climb the fence. Even
if your favorite ball does, go over into the pool.
S3 (08:23):
Were you taught about pool manners? We were. We often
had friends for pool parties, and dad said silly games
might be fun for you. But what about other kids
who can't swim as well as you can? So bombing
and ducking games were banned in our pool.
S2 (08:39):
Swimming pools aren't the only watery places where you need
to be careful to stay safe. Ponds and lakes have hazards, too.
S3 (08:50):
Big word alert. A hazard is something which is dangerous
and might cause you harm. And I know just what
you mean about ponds and lakes.
S2 (09:01):
Uh oh. Did you run into trouble when you were
a kid?
S3 (09:04):
Oh, did I ever. And I wasn't even a kid.
I like to go for a walk early in the
morning so I can watch the sun come up and
hear the dawn chorus. As all the local birds greet
the day. There's a big lake where I live. And
there is a track around it which only a few
people use early in the morning. This particular day there
(09:25):
was a brisk breeze and it snatched my hat and
cartwheeled it over the reed bank into the water.
S2 (09:33):
Uh, you didn't go in after it, did you?
S3 (09:37):
Well, I did, and it was my favorite hat, and
the wind was floating it further and further away. Firstly,
the edge was very slippery, and before I had time
to get my balance, both feet shot out from under me.
And down I went on my sit me down into
the mud. I really wanted to get my hat back
so I struggled to, my feet covered with mud and
(09:59):
sloshed in after it. Oh, of course, the water was
muddy and I couldn't see the bottom, but I just
kept on going. Just as I caught up with my hat,
disaster struck.
S2 (10:10):
Oh, dear. What happened? Rebecca?
S3 (10:13):
Oh, Geraldine. Because I couldn't see the bottom. I didn't
know that the lake became much deeper, further out, and
I'd reached the deep bit. I went in up to
my armpits. Well, that might have been okay, but the
bottom was deep, sticky mud, and my feet were buried
in nearly up to my knees. And the more I struggled,
(10:36):
the deeper they went.
S2 (10:37):
Oh, how on earth did you get out?
S3 (10:40):
Well, I didn't for a while. Um, I was soaked,
I was stuck, and there was no one around to
help me. To make matters worse, a couple of kookaburras
started up laughing. Then some of the wallabies that graze
around the lake came down and lined up along the
edge to see what the cookers were laughing at. I
swear they were laughing too. Then, to add insult to injury,
(11:05):
a flock of cockatoos settled in the paperbarks and they
had a right old laugh as well. They shrieked and
cackled while I shivered. Then suddenly everything birds and wallabies
took off.
S2 (11:21):
Rescue had arrived.
S3 (11:22):
Yes. At last the council mowing team had turned up
with their big machines to mow the grass around the lake. Well,
they dragged me out and they had a good laugh. Also.
S2 (12:53):
Did you rescue your hat?
S3 (12:56):
Ah, I did. I also learned the hard way that
all the things about slippery edges, sticky mud and suddenly
deep water that we were warned about when we were
kids were real. And I should have remembered them.
S2 (13:12):
Streams and rivers are like that too. Not only do
they have slippery, steep banks, but they often have strong
currents which can sweep an unwary swimmer away.
S3 (13:24):
There are also things like rocks and dead trees under
the water. The best bet is if you want to
get into the cool in the river, is to stick
to the shallow bits where you can see the bottom
and never go in by yourself.
S2 (13:38):
Rebecca. Those creatures that thought you went into the lake
just to give them a good laugh. How many were there?
S3 (13:47):
Hmm. Right. Okay, so there were two kookaburras and then
there were two. There were seven wallabies and I'd say
about 20 cockatoos.
S2 (13:58):
So how many altogether?
S3 (14:00):
Well two kookaburras seven Wallabies. That makes nine and 20 cockatoos.
20 and nine makes 29.
S2 (14:10):
Quite an audience. If the Wallabies hopped off. How many
birds would be left?
S3 (14:16):
Easy. Two cookers and 20 cockies comes to 22 noisy birds.
S2 (14:23):
So if the wallabies went off to collect some friends
and they came back with two kangaroos and an emu,
how many animals would be laughing at you then?
S3 (14:36):
Well, this is getting complicated. Ah, so there were 29
animals to start with. The wallabies did hop off, but
they did come back. So that's still 29. Add two
Kangas and one emu. So 29 plus two is 1031
plus one. You get to 3232. Geraldine.
S2 (14:59):
Quite an audience, but it was a free show though
you could have made a small fortune if you'd sold tickets.
S3 (15:07):
Yeah, I'd be swimming in it.
S2 (15:10):
That reminds me, what did the sea say to the swimmer?
S3 (15:15):
Oh, this will be a very wet joke, but what
did the sea say to the swimmer, Geraldine?
S2 (15:22):
Nothing. It just waved.
S3 (15:24):
Ah ha ha ha! Well. My turn. What kind of
race is never run?
S2 (15:31):
Not a clue. Bec.
S3 (15:33):
What a swimming race. Oh, and why do sharks only
swim in saltwater?
S2 (15:40):
Well, pepper water would make them sneeze.
S3 (15:43):
Oh, okay. After that, I think I need a bit
of time out.
S2 (15:49):
Sounds good. Let's relax and let our imaginations tell us
what the music is saying. Find a comfortable place and
just float along as if you are a leaf on
a lovely river. Let the current carry you along under
a warm sun. Maybe you will come to some rapids
(16:11):
where the current will spin you round between the rocks.
But you're quite safe. And then you float out onto
a calm, warm pool. At last you come to rest
on a warm, sandy, safe bank.
S3 (19:08):
Our story today is about Katie, a youngster who has
always lived in the bush and is used to bush
things when she has to go to the coast to live.
She finds that things are very different and she nearly
makes a dreadful mistake.
S2 (19:28):
Look before you leap. Come on. Katie called Katie's mum.
Katie scrambled into mum's pouch and poked her head out
for one last look Looking around, she saw the drooping,
wilted leaves on the gum trees and the dead grass.
She looked at the dry waterhole with just one tiny
(19:49):
patch of damp mud in the bottom of what used
to be a stream. She was leaving her home in
the bush. But Mum and dad had promised that they
would come back if it ever rained again. The family
was going to stay with Aunty Kath at a place
called coast for days. The family kept moving following the
(20:12):
dry stream. Down, down, down from the hills towards coast.
Dad sometimes found a damp patch of sand in the
stream bed and scraped it out with his front paws,
until a little bit of muddy water formed and the
family could have a drink. At last the stream bed
(20:32):
levelled out. Nearly there, said mum. Only one day more,
said dad, and on they went. Next morning, when Katie
peeped out of mum's pouch, there was the stream bed,
but it was full of water. Katie scrambled out and
(20:53):
raced to get a drink. Katie, don't drink that! Yelled dad.
But it was too late. Katie had already swallowed as
big a drink as she could get in one go.
It was salt water as quickly as it had gone down.
Up it came again. Katie was very sick and twice
(21:17):
as thirsty as before. Dad explained that when streams get
down to the place called coast, they're close to the sea.
Sea is very salty and it creeps into the end
of the stream. So the stream gets salty too. Katie
(21:37):
would have to wait for a proper drink until they
got to Auntie Kath's split. Auntie Kath lived near lots
of humans in a place called Park Park where there
was lots of sweet water. The water humans used came
from pipes and hoses and they turned on things called
(21:58):
taps to get it. They even had big water holes
they called lakes. They used their pipes and hoses to
grow lots of green grass. So families like mum and
dad and Katie could feed on it. Auntie Kath was
waiting for them and led the family through the lush
green trees of Park to Lake for a drink. Then
(22:21):
they all fed on the thick, green, juicy grass until
they couldn't fit in another bite. The family were so
tired after their long trip that they lay down in
the warm sun for a long, restful snooze. When Katy woke,
she couldn't believe her eyes. Right in front of her,
(22:45):
over the beautiful green grass and a strip of yellow
sand was the biggest waterhole she'd ever seen. It was
much bigger than the little waterhole back in the bush.
It was so big that she couldn't see the other side.
Katy couldn't wait to paddle her feet, wash her face
and have a nice long drink. So off she hopped
(23:07):
flat out over the grass, through the sand, up and
over some rocks, and with one gigantic leap into the
big pool, she went. Back home in bush, the pool
only came up to her knees. At coast it was
way over her head. Back in bush, the bottom of
(23:32):
the waterhole was sandy with small pebbles. At coast it
was squishy seaweed which grabbed her feet and held her
under the water. Back in bush, the stream, when it
was running flowed gently along at coast. The water pushed
(23:52):
and pulled, banging her against the rocks, then pulling her
back again. Katie kicked and kicked and just when she
had no breath, left the seaweed let her go and
she popped to the surface and they're swimming towards her
was dad. Swim, Katie? Swim called dad. I can't swim,
(24:18):
gasped Katie. Oh, of course you can, said dad. All
kangaroos can swim when they have to. When you're on land,
you hop both feet together when you're in the water,
it's pedal with your front paws and kick with your
back legs one after the other. That's my girl. See?
(24:39):
You can swim. Good girl. Katie was amazed. She was
indeed swimming and she swam beside dad all the way
back to the beach where mum was waiting. Mum, I
can swim, said Katie as mum bundled her into a
(24:59):
nice warm dry pouch. Mum, dad, said Katie as she
snuggled down. I promise that next time I go swimming
I will wait for you to come with me and
I will check things out before I jump in and
I will definitely, positively look before I leap.
S3 (25:25):
That was a reading of Look Before You Leap by
George Carlin. The reader was Geraldine.
S2 (25:31):
So what have we done today?
S3 (25:34):
We had one big word hazard. A hazard is something
which is dangerous and may cause you harm.
S2 (25:40):
We talked about how to stay safe around water.
S3 (25:44):
And we had a story about Katie, a young Joey
who knew a lot about being safe in the bush,
but nearly came to grief because she forgot that something
which is safe in one place may be hazardous in another.
Katie learned that it makes sense to check things out
before acting.
S2 (26:04):
If there was anything in today's program about which you
would like to know more, you can find us on
radio at Vision Australia.
S3 (26:14):
Hey, Geraldine, is the pup dry yet? We should take
him home.
S2 (26:17):
He's fast asleep. I'll keep him wrapped up until we
hand him over. I wonder if he learned that although
chasing butterflies is fun. It pays to look where he's
about to leap.
S3 (26:32):
I wonder if that butterfly flew over the pond on purpose.
S2 (26:35):
Hmm.
S3 (26:37):
Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.
S5 (26:54):
Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk
Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first Australians and the traditional owners
of the land. Across our working area, we pay our
respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures,
countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters.
Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and
(27:18):
richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
Happy pants has been made possible with the support of
the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.