MOUNT Gambier’s Pat Lane almost every morning puts on his bathers, straps on his googles and heads to the city’s aquatic centre.
Although he is disappointed the centre will shut for a lengthy period, his eyes are focused on the bigger picture.
“I would love to be one of the first people into the pool in the new centre,” Mr Lane told The Border Watch on Thursday.
The sprightly 78 year old took up swimming three years ago, which has dramatically improved his health and put a spring his step.
“I had an injury and my physio told me to go for a walk, but I was so sore I could not walk – someone mentioned I should go to the pool,” Mr Lane said.
Mr Lane started walking in the small pool before venturing into the Olympic Pool where he can now swim freely.
“Before this, I could not swim a stroke,” he recalled.
Mr Lane also attributes his regular lap swimming to escaping serious injuries after falling of his roof late last year.
“I fell six and a half metres. My doctor said to me ‘you should be dead – your bones are in good-nick, get back into the pool’.”
Standing pool side on Thursday, Mr Lane said he enjoyed mingling with other lap swimmers at the pool.
“I love the people here, we have a great camaraderie in the morning,” the keen swimmer said.
Mr Lane – who served on council for 12 years – said he was incredibly excited about the construction of the recreational and community complex.
“It will be absolutely wonderful for the city. It will make Mount Gambier grow to another level,” he said.
During his council term, he said there was discussions every year if money should be funnelled aside for an indoor pool.
“By the turn of the century, it was certainly a common talking point,” Mr Lane said.
