Lachlan McPherson YHS 1962 : We get the Swimming Pool. My family moved to Yallourn in 1955, after spending the preceding years in leafy Kew in Melbourne's inner east. It was here that I first found out that I couldn't swim. At the ripe age of three, I thought I could, and jumped into the deep end of the Kew pool. Dragged out by lifesavers. (Pity, some would say, could've saved us a lot of bother later). To Yallourn. Beck's Bridge on the Latrobe. Yep, straight in again. Hauled out again. (Pity, again). It happened on a regular basis. (Pity again and again). There was a "swimming hole" at the bottom of Latrobe Avenue that was inviting, almost begging; however I was warned by mum, on probable pain of death, not to even contemplate immersion in those waters that had an horrible reputation of diseases foul and life-threatening. Summer came and we were off to see Sydney via the NSW South Coast. We got to Kiama and were viewing the magnificent scenery when I spotted it. A large pool right up above the surf. I was off and into the glassy waters once again, still not realising that I still couldn't swim. Hauled out again. (I know what you're thinking: Pity again). The upshot was that on return from steak 'n kidney, Ewen and I were bundled into the car and driven to Morwell and put into the care of that great man, Otto Fooks. "Teach them to swim." In the meantime, there had been an uprising against the SEC's inactivity to build us a proper swimming pool. After much debate and procrastination (on the SEC's part) our landlord finally gave in. "If you can raise 5000 pounds in three years, we'll give you a pool." Never being a town of shrinking violets, everybody got into the act and promptly raised said amount (and more) in a year. "Where's our pool?" Groan (SEC). Work started slowly and the natives became restless. Some bright spark (an employee of the SEC) thought, "wouldn't it be a great idea if we got all that equipment and know-how that we've got right here, and put it to good use." So up from the open cut came earth-moving equipment, along came tradesmen of many persuasions, professionals with expertise in mechanical and other areas; and gave their free time to the project. The pool was taking shape. Had to be ready for the next summer. Our own Lois Gust had just become Miss Australia Olympics for raising the most money for the 1960 Rome Games and she was a damn good swimmer as well as being a real good s(p)ort. And it came to pass that the pool was ready. The day of the official opening came. It was one of those absolutely fabulous days that Yallourn could turn on. No Maryvale, no coal dust, beautiful clear sky and not too hot. What a crowd.
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