AFTER its grand opening and 50th anniversary late last year, the Nangwarry Swimming Pool continues to thrive, buoyed by strong support from the community and the Save the Nangwarry Pool Committee.
The campaign to save the town’s recreational facility started in 2016 when Wattle Range Council declared it would not renew funding for the pool.
With the looming demolition of the site on the community’s mind, the town rallied together to save the valued asset.
A committee was then created and the 32-month long process to not only save the pool, but restore it to its former glory, was under way.
The catalyst in reversing the decision to demolish the pool site came about with a petition with over 200 signatures put to council.
This was followed by a letter to council written by Member for Barker Tony Pasin supporting the community’s plight and a social media campaign which saw the Save The Nangwarry Pool Facebook page attract over 1500 members.
Committee members also travelled to Millicent for council meetings in the early stages to have their voices heard, before acquiring quotes for the pool’s restoration which carried a lower estimated cost than council forecast for such a project.
Closed for two summer seasons, the committee worked tirelessly to secure funding from council, local businesses and community members and source materials needed to make the project a reality.
Since officially reopening in November last year, the pool has gone from strength to strength with good attendance numbers over the summer season and a promising future in the community.
Committee members Di Blok and Sally Work praised the efforts of those who donated their products, money or time to the worthy cause.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us get to this point,” Ms Blok said.
“The committee members, their friends and families have spent countless hours donating time after hours and at working bees has been invaluable.
“We also received so much generosity from local businesses since starting the project.”
Among the donations was around $4000 worth of timber from OneFortyOne Timber Products which was used by the Penola Men’s Shed to create the pool’s picnic tables.
Ms Blok praised a host of other local tradespeople and businesses who supplied goods and services during the process.
“Darren Ousey (Skookum Engineering) manufactured and donated the front gate and it was his idea to make it just one gate instead of two, which enhances the entrance and provides more room for prams. The gate displays the year the pool was first established, that being 1968,” Ms Blok said.
“A special thanks must also go to Statewide Pools in Adelaide for all the support and advice they provided – they resurfaced the pool, new pool edges and upgraded the chlorine system.
“Committee member Robert Thomson carefully calculated the volunteer’s labour and work hours was around $20,000 – we are so lucky these wonderful volunteers were willing to donate the time.”
Along with senior council staff, Ms Blok said Mr Pasin and Member for MacKillop Nick McBride were also supportive during the process.
“Nick helped spur us on and gave us bigger ideas than we initially thought we could achieve at the pool.”
In late January the pool hosted a VacSwim program taught by Ebony Prelc which was well attended with 14 children taking part in the classes.
“We hope now that people know we have VacSwim, that more people will enrol next year,” Ms Work said.
“The students from Nangwarry Primary School are also completing their swimming lessons this week which proves how much the facility was needed in the community.
“The inflatable obstacle course was also a huge hit and saw around 130 people through the gates each day.
“We are just so happy with how everything is progressing and are hopeful the community continues to utilise the pool as much as possible.”
Looking to the future, plans are already under way for the 2019/2020 summer season.
“We would love to see a swim club started up again – it would be amazing for the youth to have the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills at their local pool,” Ms Blok said.
“The committee plans to sponsor some children to give them the opportunity to further their skills with Royal Life Saving South Australia.”
Rubberised pool steps to improve pool access for less mobile people and a shelter over the double barbecue are also on the agenda for next season.
The committee also hopes to one day install heated showers.
“I think all of this success just proves that if you have a passionate committee and support from the community you can get things done,” Ms Work said.
“When you see the kids enjoying the pool it brings joy and to know it will hopefully be accessible for generations to come – is the best thing we could ask for.”
