In 2006, Sydney long-distance swimmer Kieran Kelly hatched an audacious plan to try and swim the 61 km length of Lake Argyle for the first time.  With the assistance of the Kununurra community, lead by long-term local Jim Hughes, pulled off this feat, taking two and a half days to swim from Flying Fox Knoll to the dam wall.

The six swimmers, all from Sydney’s Balmoral Beach Club, became the first to swim successfully across this body of water.

In 2007, the group returned and helped to organise the first public swim held in the lake.  This swim, now known as the Kimberley First National Lake Argyle Marathon Swim, is now the largest community participation sporting event in Northern Australia.  It is also the largest community swimming event in Western Australia outside of Perth.