Water and Opal in Lightning Ridge have Slovak links

Zuzana Kovacicova visited Slovak community in Lightning Ridge as they reflect on the successes of their opal mining efforts. 70km from the nearest "big" town of Walgett, they learned to be self-sufficient and have the quality of life that big cities take for granted. 12yo Lili Sisa was one of the kids who put their bright minds together and drew a plan to build a swimming pool. They raised 3.5 million dollars and today they have a 5 star facility that is just as good and big as the Olympic Pool in Sydney and kids from as far as Canberra use it and compete in platform diving on national level. We interviewed the mother & coach Zuzana Sisa , wife of the opal miner who came to Australia in the 80's.

Pool in Lightning Ridge Source: courtesy of Zuzana Sisa