Support needed to keep pool

• Winnaleah pool committee Tania Rattray MLC, Wendy Goninon, Jammie Taylor Rebecca Singline, Maxine Mullins and Sandy Kerr considering the pool’s future.

By Tony Scott,
JUNE 02, 2021

An urgent call has gone out for support to keep the Winnaleah swimming pool open.

About 40 people attended a crisis meeting last week, when the small committee reported that without a roster of on-duty lifeguards the pool could not get insurance cover and would not be able to open.

Committee member Maxine Mullins said the pool had about 50 members who were issued a key to access the pool as a private facility provided they had a current first aid certificate.

This system was no longer tenable, as to get insurance a qualified life guard would need to be on site whenever the pool was open.

“This would come at an extra cost of around $7000 per season,” Ms Mullins said.

The running costs  for the pool are met by community fund raising and a $10,000 contribution from the Dorset Council.

It has provided a needed community service, providing swimming lessons for infants to children up to 14 years of age.

More than 50 participants took part last season, including people from Gladstone, Rushy Lagoon, Pioneer, Scottsdale and Bridport.  

Water aerobic sessions have also been held at the pool and Winnaleah School has hosted early childhood water orientation sessions.

To be able to continue the committee stressed it would need more support, from people and financial, and most importantly the services of at least five lifeguards.

The committee would cover costs of lifeguard training and uniforms and lifeguards would be paid an honorarium to carry out their duties.  

The committee president Jamie Taylor said the response to date had been positive.

“We’ve already had a few people express some interest in the lifeguard positions.

“We’re hoping we might be able to merge the training with the Ringarooma pool lifeguards so it can be done locally rather than have people needing to go to Hobart.”

She said another meeting would be called in a couple of weeks with people being asked to consider ways to raise funds for the pool’s operation.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about this opportunity is encouraged to contact Jamie Taylor.