50th party with obstacle course, dive-in movie renews wish for heated pool

– By Councillor Jasmin Jones, Chair of the Yass Valley Youth Council.

(Disclaimer: Cr Jones offered to contribute this article and the offer is open to all councillors wishing to provide material to Scoop readers).

CELEBRATION: Just as the mayor was about to cut a giant 50th birthday cake in front of a large crowd at the pool celebrations on Saturday someone called out, “make a wish!”.

Without skipping a beat a response came from the crowd, “a heated pool!” which met with a ripple of approval all round. Even Mayor Rowena Abbey laughed and declared “no problem!”

So as we celebrate our pool’s 50th year it’s also a perfect opportunity for our community to consider this much-loved yet ageing asset’s future and what improvements might need to be undertaken to maintain it long into the future while looking to other infrastructure needs of our growing community.

Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey cut the birthday cake amid cheers from the crowd.

As a councillor I have received consistent and continued feedback on the need for public access to a local a heated pool whether it be parents concerned about their children’s ability to access learn-to-swim classes or access for year-round athletic swim training, or those with family members in need of a hydrotherapy pool to assist their health and recovery from surgery or injury.

Cost will always be a hurdle… until it isn’t.

How the Yass Pool was built is a classic example. A bold community worked together. No one group achieved it. Contributors included Woollen Wealth, state government and local council and 4000 people turned up for the opening.

Nine-year-old Poppy Jones navigating the course.

The floating obstacle course proved a hit with children.

So I believe exploring the feasibility of what our growing population in Yass and the surrounding villages could support now and in the future is worth doing; with the ongoing sustainability of the asset the key issue.

Successfully run heated pools can offer varied services depending on demand and the necessary market to provide profitability for private operators or joint organisations or simply break even for not-for-profit community run centres.

Ideas worth considering could be a 25m lap design for all year-round swim training, a 10m hydrotherapy pool for health rehab and learn-to-swim such as Aquatots in the ACT, or something big and bold for economic development with tourism and cultural attractions in the form of splash-pads and aquatic fun such as Wagga’s aquatic centre.

Such facilities would be well placed in Yass near existing infrastructure such as the outdoor pool, caravan park and schools where both residents and tourists alike could access facilities. A multi-sport complex and hall could also be part of that vision.

Nathan Furry and Southerly Jones cooking for the crowd.

Murrumbateman is also a clear contender for such facilities with strong population growth on its horizon.

Judging by the success of Saturday’s poolside celebration, Yass Valley residents could well be ready for some ‘all year round local poolside’ action.

Yass Valley Youth Council organised the dive-in movie entertainment and served up dinner to raise funds for the group’s own equipment.

The day was sunkissed  and plenty of fun and food were on hand with the giant blow-up obstacle course a roaring success.

As the giant slide was finally deflated, a movie screen was filled with air ready to entertain the crowd into the night.

Councillor Jasmin Jones would love to see a heated pool facility in Yass.

Yass Valley Youth Councillors fed the hungry crowds with a non stop barbecue from midday until 9pm raising money to go towards an outdoor movie screen kit of their own. The young members hope to assist community groups host movies throughout the towns and villages.

“As Chair of Yass Valley Youth Council I am privileged to mentor a group of dynamic and hard working community-minded youth who, when they set their mind to something, achieve wonders.

“They have been working towards this goal of a movie screen since 2013 and they are so close I think we could almost start making popcorn now.”

* Huge shout out to Maree at Yass Jumping Castles for coming to the rescue when vital equipment for the inflation process on both features needed assistance.

 

Pool life guards helped inside the pool and out on the night.

It’s all fun until someone gets splashed! The obstacle course proved a hit with families on Saturday.

Hayley Silcock joined in some water ballooning fun with the young crowd on Saturday.

 

Pool manager Leanne Goode tests out the obstacle course during the 50th birthday celebrations.

 

Some were better at traversing the floating obstacle course than others!

 

Ouch.

 

 

The sun sets on a game of pass-the-water-balloon before the movie starts.

 

Setting up the inflatable movie screen so patrons could enjoy some Saturday evening outdoor entertainment .

Apollo Jones and Youth Council volunteer Rachel Glassford check out the popcorn.

Find more stories about Yass Valley pool facilities here and here and here.

– By Councillor Jasmin Jones, Chair of the Yass Valley Youth Council.