This workshop is made possible thanks to the Baden McNab Fund, which honours the memory of Owaka local Baden McNab, who tragically lost his life in 2018 pursuing one of his outdoor passions.

“Baden loved hunting and fishing and diving. So we thought about doing safety courses in Owaka, as many young people never really think about doing proper training, they just learn from their mates... and sometimes important safety bases aren’t covered, ” said Peter McNab, Baden's father.

“It also means doing something that might mean someone else doesn’t have to go through what we have.”

The Baden McNab Fund at Clutha Foundation was created to support courses for local people to learn advanced snorkelling safety.  After several successful dive courses, the McNab family has expanded the initiative to include a firearms safety day for those using and around firearms.  The Baden McNab Fund is invested by the Foundation and continues to pay out the interest to run these courses, each and every year, forever.