Pool reopens its doors

Ethan Smith swimming at the Healesville indoor pool. 144664 Picture: ROB CAREW

By JESSE GRAHAM

A FREE swim and activities for young and old will be on offer next weekend at Healesville’s indoor pool, as it opens its doors for the day.
The Jack Hort Memorial Indoor Swimming Pool in Healesville will throw open the doors from 10am-4pm on Sunday 11 October, for an open day.
Visitors will be able to swim for free all day and take part in free aqua aerobics sessions and infant aquatic lessons.
Pool manager Ross Ilsley said the event was a chance to promote the venue after last year’s uncertainty over the pool’s future, which was staved off with a funding agreement between the management of the pool, Healesville High School and the Yarra Ranges Council.
Before the agreement was reached, the pool had drastically cut down its opening hours – now, the hours have been restored to include mornings, nights and Saturdays.
“What we’re trying to do is promote ourselves – that we’re still here, that we still intend to be here when the new pool is built,” he said.
Mr Ilsley said that bookings were essential for aqua aerobics and infant aquatics sessions, and that children’s activities would be held from 2-4pm on the day.
The Healesville Swimming Club will also perform a demonstration from 1-2pm.
Mr Ilsley said the Rotary Club of Healesville would run a sausage sizzle from 11am-2pm, and the pool would be holding a cake stall and book stand to raise money for the venue.
He said the aim was to show what the pool had to offer, to try and get more visitors along regularly for swimming, aerobics and lessons.
The Jack Hort Memorial Indoor Pool is located on Camerons Road in Healesville, and is open from 7am-8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8am-8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7am-4pm on Fridays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
For more information, or to book for a session, call 5962 2709 or email ilsley.ross.a@edumail.vic.gov.au.