LEARN-TO-SWIM POOL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 24, 14 November 1944, Page 5

LEARN-TO-SWIM POOL

[ASSET TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL official opening ceremony Wide public interest was 'evinced in the recently completed learn-,to-swim pool at the Whakatane High School last Friday afternoon when the official •opening ceremony took place y and parents and friends we're treated! to a demonstration and Plater to a complimentary afternoon tea. A plfc'asing feature was the presence of Mr A. S. who as the then headmaster of the school initiated the first fund to build the pool three years ago. The day was beautifully fine and • about sixty parents attended the i'ormal gathering on the playing grounds in front ol the mffin school buildings. They were Avelcomed by ■the Headmaster Mr P. Hubbard ■who expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present and invited all parents to watch the demonstrations under the control of Miss Hatlon the sports mistress. Mr J. Wilson secretary of. the •committee, apologised for the absence of the chairman (Mr Warner) -and took the opportunity of thanking publicly Messrs W. S. Hender--son and .F. W. Lysaght for their assistance and co-operation during the building and planning of the :baths. It was a proud day for the ■committee to be able to hand over the completed job, after three years effort. The total cost had been £403, of which the Department had subsidised half the parents had found £170 and the children the balance. It was now their intention to build a dressing shed and later to lay down a large area in concrete which •could be used for physical training -basketball and tennis. The committee had set an objective of £100 for this purpose and the list had already been opened in the BEACON. Referring to the pool again he said he understood that there had been some, criticism amongst the pupils themselves at the size of the bath. It had never been intended to construct a full-sized bath. All that had been thought of was a iearn-to-swim pool wihch would teach all the children how to swim, so that, they would have no fear on •entering the sea or the river. = f all children left the school able to swim ;he was sure they would agree that the bath had served a very useful purpose. The pool was officially opened by the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry t who .jokingly remarked that he had brought along his 'togs' preparatory to taking the initial plunge in traditional style but had been forbidden to create a scene by the Headmaster. He congratulated the committee on 'its achievement and the school on possessing such an asset. He referred to the number of young lives lost through drowning in and about New Zealand during recent years, and expressed the hope that the pool would be the forerunner of a larger bath, which would ensure the production of sturdy swimmers from the school. Mr Southy in a happy speech extended his adding that it did not seem like three years since he had opened the first swimjning bath fund. In spite of the handicaps resulting from the war the committee had carried on and he was proud to see his old school in possession of such an asset. The pool itself, was then visited. •Solidly constructed it. is surrounded by a tall and substantial trellis which provides a certain amount- of privacy and makes for shad«\. The •dimensions are 45 x 15 feet and the depth up to four feet. The whole aspect is one of sound workmanship and permananee. Groups of. children who underwent instruction by way of demonstration for the benefit of the adults present appeared very much at home in the water and were warmly applauded for their •work. The adults were later the guests of the staff to an afternoon tea served in the school. SUBSCRIPTIONS WELCOME SCHOOL FUNDS REQUIRED The following further donation to the school subscription list opened iiy the BEACON in the "interests of the learn-to-swim pool and other -essential improvements is acknowledged:— Previously acknowledged £10 0 0 W. S. Henderson 3 0 0 Total £13 0 0