Above:Students and teachers bunch up in Pakenham Bicentennial Heated Pool on a cold winter day. (Front from left)Lachie, Hayden, teacher Sally, Alex, (back from left)Imogen, teacher Louise, Brooke, and Lachlan, Bonnie, teacher Erin and Megan.
By Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM swimmers are saying goodbye to an old friend.
As the countdown continues to the grand opening of the $10 million new Cardinia LiFE aquatic centre, the town’s existing heated pool is preparing to close.
Thousands of children have learned to swim in the Main Street pool over the years.
Pool manager Meredith Bowers said it would be sad to see it close.
“It’s been a real asset for the town,” she said.
The 20-metre indoor pool was built as part of Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations in 1998.
Residents raised funds, tradesmen donated time and materials, government funds were sourced and local groups and sporting organisations clubbed together to create a true community-based centre.
Mrs Bowers said a gathering to celebrate the pool’s proud history would be held this Sunday.
“It is a chance for people to get together and say goodbye to the pool,” she said.
“So many children have learnt to swim here, it has also been a focal point for lots of lap swimmers, the arthritis group, early birds and water aerobics.”
Many keen swimmers have made a tradition of eating breakfast at the pool after their dawn dip.
Margaret Rolfe, one of several people to play a key role in the pool’s development, said she would be sorry to see it go.
The planned closure on 30 June paves the way for the opening of the new aquatic centre in July.
“I always knew one day it would close, but it has certainly done its job over the years,” Mrs Rolfe said.
“It was always intended to be a learner-type pool, it was never meant to be a leisure pool.
“When it first opened some people said it was too small and would only last a year, but I am very proud that thousands of children and even adults have had the chance to learn to swim thanks to that pool.”
Mrs Rolfe said residents previously had to travel to Dandenong or Springvale to swim during winter months.
Henk Schipper, David Cooper, Ann Kaye and many others led the efforts to build a heated pool in Pakenham.
Mrs Rolfe said she was looking forward to catching up on Sunday with some of the people who helped get the project up and running all those years ago.
“So many people played a part in building that pool,” she said.
“Those were the days when the community really got together.”
>>> An open invitation is extended to the Pakenham community to say goodbye to the pool. There will be free activities at the pool between 11am and 3pm on Sunday, 18 June.
