In March 1971 the Kangaroo Valley Apex Club formed a committee to investigate the feasibility of a swimming pool in Kangaroo Valley and a Swimming Pool Appeal was set up. A public meeting was organised in June to gauge public support and discuss how funds could be raised to make the pool happen.
A bold move was made by the Apex Club in August by opening a Swimming Pool Account with $100. Further monies were raised over the next couple of years including the Apex Ball. Shoalhaven Council was approached regarding a suitable swimming pool site.
In February 1974 the Police Department inspected the police paddock proposed for a swimming pool. Subsequently a letter was sent to the local member, Tom Lewis, recommending a portion of the police paddock was needed for the town’s swimming pool. Then in November of that same year a delegation approached the Minister for Police, Mr Maddison, regarding attaining police land for a swimming pool. The delegation included the Shire President Bruce McIntosh, Bob Dunn, John Warran, Garry Bruem and Garth Chittick (the now President of the Historical Society).
And then in March 1975 a letter was received from the Minister for Police, Mr Waddy, giving approval for the extra police land to be used for the pool. (See letter attached.)
A public meeting was called, then a Federal Government Community Project Grant was applied for, with no luck. Even the Federal Member, John Kerin, did not support the project. The KV Bowling Club and the Upper River Community Association both offered assistance by having functions to raise money for the pool.
The desire for all children to learn to swim led the Apex Club to register as a Charity, to raise money for the pool, where they purchased a Volvo, a Honda and a colour TV (a big deal at the time!) as prizes for an Art Union lottery, which raised $8500.
Early in 1976 the Apex Club took out a $5000 loan to help with funding for the pool.
The engineer from Leightons, John Patterson, helped organise materials and labour from Leightons, Citra and Blue Circle Cement. opp
Shoalhaven Shire Council agreed to ‘Rate Payer’s Loans’ amounting to $25,000, whereby the Apex members approached every household where most residents lent the Council money at low interest. The Council also donated the filtration plant. Further donations from the community were also made.
The total expenditure for the project was $63,500.
Thanks to the community and especially the Apex Club of Kangaroo Valley, who were instrumental in starting and seeing the pool project through to completion, the pool opened in December 1976.
How many other communities could have achieved this?
Christine Murphy
Kangaroo Valley Historical Society
