At last, the steps at the Maldon swimming pool have been installed! If you have reduced or limited mobility, you now have the opportunity to enter and exit the pool safely. This is largely thanks to the Maldon swimming pool committee, who have been campaigning for pool steps since 2017.
Swimming pool committee member Lee Mead explained that until now, the pool has only had vertical ladders, which has restricted use for some. “The steps have been a long time coming,” Lee said. “Initially, the Shire wouldn’t allow the use of portable steps due to safety concerns regarding the available products at the time. There was a proposal to build steps into the pool and plans were drawn up. Funding stipulations meant that this would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. Despite the fact that the pool committee presented budget submissions and community petitions to Council, the funds could never be found.”
The pool committee then took the next step: an application for a Victorian Government grant in 2018. This, however, was unsuccessful.
But the committee members did not give up! They continued fundraising and petitioning Council until last year came success. “A new portable step product came onto the market that was being installed in other pools,” Lee said. “This product is NDIS approved and is a fraction of the cost of a built-in structure. Finally, the Shire agreed to approve the use of portable steps and paid for half of the cost, with the committee paying for the other half.”
Since it was formed in 2012, the Maldon swimming pool committee has worked closely with both the pool managers (YMCA Victoria) and Council to care for the pool and to improve its facilities.
“We’ve worked hard and have held many raffles, sausage sizzles and market fundraisers,” Lee said. “I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the present committee members (Anne Hayes, Karen Dickson, Peter Hanson, Christine Fitzgerald) as well as all past committee members. Many thanks also to all volunteers and local community members who have made generous donations and supported our many years of fundraising.” And of course, special thanks to Lee and Anne – who have both been on the committee since its inception.
A vital community hub during summer, the pool is open on days when the temperature is 23 degrees or more. There are programs in place to suit a range of ages – from infant aqua play on Thursdays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm; lap swimming on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6pm to 7pm; and water aerobics on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 15 December 2023.
