Local women enjoying their first splash during self-paced exercise sessions. Popular classes are learn to swim for babies through to adults, water therapy and fun and fitness classes.
By Sam Hicks, Group President
T
he vision of local learn-to-swim teacher, Linda Watkins, was to have an indoor heated pool in Alexandra. Linda had taught locally at seasonal pools and at Mansfield where she built up a large clientele. At a meeting at CEACA (now known as Alexandra Community Hub) in 2014, around 80 parents squeezed into the old courthouse to discuss a new pool. I offered to lead the meeting on the condition that a huge aquatic centre worth millions was off the table, and explained that projects of that size are challenging to fund, even harder to maintain and unfeasible long term. It was best to begin small and grow with the community. The idea was welcomed and a small team was assembled including myself, Linda Watkins, Michelle Crowley, Renee Pearson, Mel Heard, Jacqui Caswell, Jason Krijt and Tiffinie Reeves. Public meetings were held at CEACA as the idea was developed. Linda and I met with Sandy Keath at Murrindindi
Shire Council and spoke about the idea and what grants may be available. The group needed a business case, an actual drawn plan, and a strategy to make it a reality. After that meeting, I had a brain wave to put in a pool in a shop. Linda and I walked all over Alexandra looking at empty shops.
Tiffinie worked on budgets and extensive modelling to allow the team to see how they could operate under an incorporated body structure based on a business model. A venue was chosen with the landlord kindly holding the property for us whilst we sourced funding for the project.
Once the team met regularly the idea was further developed as a pop-up pool, needing a venue and a requirement to gauge community interest. I began to socialise the group’s idea, presenting to as many community groups as possible and hosting many community meetings. In 2015 it was decided on an above ground mineral salted pool offering learn-to-swim classes for children of all ages, all abilities access and water therapy style classes.
The team met weekly to work on quotes, securing support letters and promises of assistance. Tiffinie began the huge task of populating a project plan and attended a project management course in Taggerty.
The group regretfully farewelled Michelle and Renee early in 2015 after they completed their reconciliation tasks, Linda relocated to Queensland in about 2019 to teach in larger pools and Mel moved interstate. The team in the meantime welcomed Meg and Rod (Linda’s stand in) and later Marg.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC TRADING RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY FOR ADVERTISERS/EVENTS IN THIS MAGAZINE
Pick my Project (PMP) was a Victorian State Government community nominated funding opportunity announced in 2018. It was a participatory budgeting community grant that presented a huge opportunity. Tiffinie attended the PMP workshops, the group drafted the application and local draftsperson Angelo Greco drew up the plans. The project was submitted in July with the voting commencing from August. The Pop-up Pool Project, securing the Murrindindi Guide – SUMMER 2021/22 – 51
