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From April 27 the public will be able to view the eight options MidCoast Council is considering to replace the Cedar Party Bridge at sessions held at the Wingham CWA building.
Council has stated that two of the options would see the removal of the Wingham Memorial Swimming Pool.
We spoke to former pool manager and coach, Ron Spriggs, about our current pool, which has a long, colourful history.
“The pool was originally built with funds raised by the Wingham Community to replace the old ‘duck pond’ which was near the cattle sale yards and was well known for its often-questionable water quality,” Ron said.
Former resident, Pauline Titterton, now residing in the USA recently spoke to Ron and recalled teaching children to swim in the original ‘duck pond’ and says she was “so appreciative the community raised sufficient funds to have the new pool built.”
Recalling swimming in the old ‘duck pond’ Pauline said “the duck pond was a hole in the ground which was cemented on the bottom and all four sides. The water was filthy as there was no filtration and the only chemicals to go in it was when a kid had to pee. The dressing rooms were awesome, no roof, timber framework and walls with no toilet or showers.”
Pauline also told Ron that despite the condition of the water, many children learned to swim there with lessons run every Saturday morning. Pauline’s parents, Ivy and Les, were two of the driving forces behind the fundraising for the new pool, which included many a cake stall, bingo night and raffle.
Ron confirmed other major players in fundraising were Arthur and Ellie Whyte-Butler who were also instrumental in establishing the Wingham Swimming Club. A memorial garden in front of the pool recognises Arthur’s contribution to the community. Both Ellie and Ivy Titterton were regular pool users and swimming club supporters right up to their deaths.
The pool was initially 33 metres in length but was extended to 50 metres several years later to cater for swimming club events, district carnivals, school carnivals, learn to swim and lifesaving programs. The depth of the extension made the pool ideal for water polo and the Manning Valley Water Polo Club was formed in the early eighties.
Local schools have regularly used the pool for learn to swim programs and lifesaving classes. Wingham High School won a Royal Life Saving Society Commendation in 1978 for the most pupils reaching bronze medallion status in NSW.
Over the years, the pool has not only served as a community meeting place on hot days but as a breeding ground for young swimmers including Alison Cross who won medals at country and state level. Alison was also a member of the NSW primary school team, and medalist, that competed at the inaugural Pacific School Games in 1982.
Trenton Spriggs also represented NSW at the Pacific School Games held in Perth in 1996 bringing home seven medals and breaking six national records. Trenton also represented Australia at the World Championships in Auckland in 1998.
Trenton’s former training partner, Luke McKenzie, now residing in the USA continues to make a living as a professional triathlete with his most notable effort being a second place at the World Ironman Championship in 2013.
Other formidable athletes to have used the pool for training purposes as youngsters include former world champion motorcyclist Troy Bayliss, and former professional cyclist and Tour de France competitor Nicholas Gates.
Numerous water polo players from Wingham have represented NSW at state level and Matthew Erby was selected in an Australian under 21’s team. Bobin’s Jamie Ryan made a name for himself as assistant coach of the Australian Women’s Team. Jamie is now an assistant coach with the AFL’s Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Wingham has also proven popular with state sporting bodies conducting events at the pool including the East Coast Water Polo Championships, Country District Water Polo Championships and the Combined High Schools Water Polo Championships as well as district swimming carnivals.
Several water polo players who competed at the CHS Championships held in Wingham in 1994 later went on to represent Australia at Olympic Games level and included Yvette Higgins whose goal, in the dying seconds of the 2000 Sydney Olympic final helped Australia take the gold, suggested Ron.
Taryn Woods also competed at the tournament and was also a member of the 2000 Olympic team. Her younger brother, Gavin, went on to represent Australia at four Olympic Games, was also a competitor in the tournament at Wingham.
But Ron says the greatest reward he gets from his years at the Wingham Pool is walking down the main street of Wingham and seeing people that used the pool as kids who have grown to become productive members of our community and are now actively involved in junior sports clubs with their own children.
“Some of those kids could’ve finished up on the wrong side of the tracks if not for the Wingham Pool and here they are, good citizens, with good jobs and families of their own now,” he said.
Ron concedes the ageing pool needs a major upgrade which would be dependent on whether the pool shell is structurally sound, but in the absence of any engineers report he cannot see the sense in bulldozing such a valuable community asset to make way for a bridge.
“I’ve lived in Wingham for 35 years now and can only recall the bridge going under water about three times during that period and it was closed for only a brief period each time. So why do we need such a massive bridge at the expense of the pool?”
Ron is urging Wingham residents to attend the planned council information sessions and air their views by participating in a survey provided at the sessions and “not be daunted by the veiled threats that funds may not be available for any future refurbishment of the current pool.” He said in the long term, this could result in its closure.
“The former Council used that one to close Cundletown Pool when the Manning Leisure Centre was constructed, promising the residents of Cundletown a walkway/cycleway to give them easy and safe access to the new facility, they’re still waiting” he added.