Celebrations are taking place on Saturday, November 3 for the 50th birthday of Wingham Pool.

The community is invited to participate in the festivities from 10am-2pm with a range of activities planned by YMCA organisers.

Learn to swim assessments will be held from 10.15am – 11.15am with the opportunity for kids to sign up for swimming lessons. 

From 11.30am – 12.15pm there will be an aqua swim trial class followed by the official cake cutting at 12.30pm.

Former swimming coach Ron Spriggs will be on hand to speak on the history of the pool and he’ll be joined by long serving member of Wingham Swimming Club, Jenny Watts.

Pool party games will begin at 1pm which will include fun relay races for kids.

There will also be pool inflatables, free face painting, a jumping castle and a barbecue lunch.

There should be enough cake for everyone too.

Entry is $5.

The current Wingham Pool was opened in 1968 and replaced the original pool, known affectionately as the Duck Pond.

Wingham Municipal Council allocated £250 for the construction of the 40x20 foot original pool to be built on the reserve near the Cedar Party Creek Bridge.

Construction of the original pool began in the summer of 1944-45.

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The Duck Pond was well loved by locals and as Wingham grew, so did the need for a larger swimming facility.

In December 1950, a poll was conducted on the matter of new swimming baths for Wingham.

The majority of those who voted on the proposed new swimming pool were in favour of its construction.

Three years later in 1954, a petition – signed by 550 children with 159 written promises of voluntary labour by parents and teachers – requesting the construction of new swimming baths was handed to council.

The highly anticipated new 33-metre pool was constructed towards the late 1950s.

The pool underwent extensive renovations and was extended to its current 50-metre length from 1964 to 1968.

Fifty years later, Wingham pool continues to be a highly valued community facility.

Every day, locals begin arriving at 6am for early morning laps.

Local school groups rely on the pool for their swimming tuition programs and carnivals.

There is also swimming club, coaching and general recreational use after school and on weekends.

Former Wingham Pool manager and coach, Ron Spriggs agrees the current Wingham pool 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 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, 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. 

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.

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.