QUAMBATOOK community members fear they will be left “high and dry” if Gannawarra Shire Council proceeds with its draft Aquatic Strategy which could result in the closure of the town’s pool.
Past and present Quambatook residents have united in a bid to raise funds for the facility and ensure its survival.
Residents will take part in a fundraising walk at Merri Creek in Brunswick to raise funds for the Quambatook Memorial Pool.
Their fundraising efforts will go towards purchasing a motorised solar blanket to encourage the use of the pool by its senior residents.
Former Quambatook resident Jo Coughlan has strong ties with the pool.
Her father, Ossie Coughlan was part of the founding committee who campaigned and fundraised for the pool back in 1961.
“Dad was a returned soldier who fought in New Guinea during the Second World War,” Ms Coughlan said.
“The Quambatook Memorial Pool was built as a memorial to those who fought and died during the conflicts that Australia was involved in, up until this time.”
In 1966, the committee’s efforts were recognised and the pool was officially opened.
Ms Coughlan, who spent many summers at the pool with her six siblings, said it was a huge effort for the committee who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the pool a reality, with the Quambatook community raising in excess of $29,000 and securing funding to cover the remaining costs.
“As an adult I also visited the pool regularly with my own five children,” she said.
While the pool is owned and managed by the Quambatook community, Ms Coughlan said the Gannawarra Shire Council contributed $17,000 annually to assist with the running of the pool.
“If the shire was to withdraw its funding because they chose to apply their funding elsewhere, such as a fancy aquatic centre in Kerang, the Quambatook community and its Memorial Pool would be left high and dry,” Ms Coughlan said.
“The people of Quambatook pay rates just the same as every other community in the Gannawarra Shire – isn’t the community of Quambatook entitled to the same resources?”
She said rural towns were already struggling but the pool provided a social outlet for the community, and was well supported.
“Assets are being stripped from rural communities and Quambatook has already lost its school, preschool and tennis courts,” she said.
“They can’t afford to lose any more resources.”
Residents hope the new solar blanket will increase use of the pool.
“Hopefully by encouraging more people to use the facility, the Committee of Management will increase revenue and therefore be able to manage the ongoing and continually rising costs of running the pool,” Ms Coughlan said.
