Jamestown Swimming Pool

[adminer]

My Maternal Grandfather, Wesley Wycliffe Gribble, used to tell me he played a major role in the construction of the Jamestown Swimming Pool.  I do not know if this is fact, but have no reason to doubt his stories. Also my cousin, Rodney Gilfillan, son of Gordon James and Catherine Rebecca Gilfillan (nee Gribble), was sadly drowned in the pool - not sure when.

Does anyone have more concrete (not a pun!  ) details of when, how, & maybe who constructed the pool? 

[Ray]

I have no doubt that our resident town historian, Barb Parri would have a lot of information on the construction of the swimming pool. I have read several accounts of it's construction and re development over the years, although the names of those escape me with the exception of those persons who were still involved in it's running when I arrived in Jamestown. "Jimmy" Murchland comes immediately to mind and I know one of the Stacey family was there right from the start, and I know that there were many others.

I will see Barb, and ask if she can help,... and I already know the answer.

I only vaguely remember Mr. and Mrs. Gribble living on Mannanarie Road.

Although Rodney drowned long before I arrived in Jamestown, (6th Dec 1950), there was not a kid in Jamestown who didn't know the story, as it was oft times told to us as a warning not to swim without an adult in attendance. So,...  in our wisdom we used to swim on occasions in the railway reservoir, or the quarry on Slattery's hill. Both far more dangerous, not to mention filthy dirty and often covered in slime.  This was doubly stupid, as we all had Season Tickets to the pool.

We felt we were "heroes", now I know where the saying comes from, "You can't put brains in monuments".

Added at 02:25pm  I went too see Barb, only to find that she is out. I will try again soon.

[Dykey]

I know Allan Thomas had a lot to do with pool in the early days, specially in relation to bore which was put down in the creek,

[adminer]

Allan lived across Mannanarie Road from my Grandparents (my Maternal Grandparents bought the house from my Paternal Grandparents - go figure) - I remember all the equipment in his backyard. I wonder if the History Society has any additional info?

[Ray]

Allan was another town identity, always referred to by Mick as "The Expert",... and an expert he was, somewhat in the same stamp as Mick, there was not much that he could not turn his hand to, and do a workman like job of it.

He had a seemingly rough and tough exterior, but was as good hearted as they come, to us kids.

[dianne48]

 
Your answer to your question.
Swimming pools have been constructed in the Belalie creek several times in the past years but the periodical floods have swept away the weirs and other improvements, so it was realised that any pool of a permanent and satisfactory nature must be made away from the channel of the creek.
Messrs J. Souter and A. D. Phillips held a public meeting on DEC.4 1925 To consider construction of the pool.
Attended. Mr.Sooter, W.Stacey, J. Bampton, F.S.Phillips, J. Murchland, A.Baldwin, Mrs. J. Murchland, C. Mc Kenzie, T.Penner, J. Hervey, J.Donovan, B. Sinclair.
Decided to construct the pool on present site, had to have $250 before start.
Mr. William Stacey promply gave $100 and loan another $250 free of interest.
Among those who worked hard at the excavation of the pool and concreting, all of which work was voluntary, were
T.Penna, C. McKenzie, G.Finn, J.Donavan, J. Bampton, J.Hervey, and many others.
On the 31 Jan. 1927 The Patron William Stacey performed the opening ceremony and master D. Goodes made the first dive into the baths.
The pool received full support of the town and district and was recognised as one of the finest assets of the town. The Club was at that time debt free after spending more than $850.

[Ray]

Jamestown's Swimming Pool is with out a doubt one of the towns greatest assets having given a huge amount of enjoyment to a great part of our community, not to mention the fact that had we have not had the pool many of us would never have had the opportunity to learn to swim, something that I have valued highly all my life.  

I know that when I was a kid I literally lived there from the day the season opened until it finally got too cold to swim. In fact I don't know of many kids in Jamestown who were not the same.

The first gate keeper I can remember was "Old" Jack O'Riley who would have been aged 75 years in 1960. He gave us kids a huge amount of leeway with our shenanigans in the water, but when he spoke,... you listened, if you didn't, you'd find yourself banned for a couple of days. You could either accept his punishment or have your name passed on to the next Committee meeting where punishment was likely to be far more severe. On the nights when it was deemed warm enough to open the pool usually one of the older kids among us would drive up to his house in North Parade to collect him as it was a fair hike for him to walk.

The one thing I did remember was him banning one of our number for several days only to find later that the offender was going away on holidays for a week or so. Nothing was said until the offender returned to Jamestown and duly fronted at the gate, "Old Jack" took him aside and said, "You've been away son,... your ban can start now".  

When Jack retired his job was taken over by "Dolly Smits" whom all the kids adored, Dolly was mum to all the littlies and had a couple of very attractive daughters which encouraged the boys treat her with great respect, Dolly rarely had to ask twice to get a couple of boys to hose out the Dressing sheds and toilets.

[dianne48]

Ray I feel a little silly, when I was writing in the amounts I put dollars instead of Pounds. Sorry.
Yes you are right we all spent a lot of time at the pool,we would take our bathers to work with us and go straight from work.
 We use to go down to the pool with Mr. Murchland and help him clean the bottom of the pool and any money we found we were aloud to keep, the older ones use to dive for coins and loose them they should have been like us and dive for stones.
When you think about it we were very lucky to have had the experience of growing up in Jamestown, a beautiful Town, great friends and a great family. We don't know how lucky we really were until we think back to those days in our minds and Realise what the kids of today are really missing.
Not only were we privileged to have the pool but the Creek as well, we played for hours in it.
Sunday picnic under the bridge while we were catching Yabbies.
Ummm Ray I never had to worry about being ban from the pool, unlike you rat bags we behaved ourselves LOL.