Past pool president’s fight for Stanhope

By Contributed

Jan 17, 2022

Time to stand up: Decorated Stanhope community leader Bob Holschier is asking Campaspe Shire councillors to stand up for their communities in regard to the proposed pool closures.

As a former president of both the Stanhope Swimming Pool and the Stanhope Swimming and Life Saving Club for some 10 years, I am disgusted to learn of the council's proposal to close all the swimming pools in the small towns within the shire.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Together with many locals and in particular the late Josie Bohn, we taught hundreds of local children and adults to swim and carry out life-saving procedures.

With the amount of drowning deaths in Victoria this summer so far, it is more imperative than ever that children be taught to swim in a safe environment rather than force them into trying to swim in dangerous irrigation channels, rivers and dams. It was this reason that many of these pools were built in the first place, to create a safe and hygienic environment.

Is it the actual councillors who are responsible for this proposal? Or is it the actions of the senior bureaucrats at the shire who seem to be responsible for many decisions which are detrimental to the small towns within the shire.

Isn't it time the councillors, who are elected by the ratepayers, stood up for their constituents, instead of being dictated to by these bureaucrats who are seldom seen in the small towns and would have little or no idea of the various requirements of these communities.

In my opinion, and the opinion of many others in the Stanhope community, I would much rather see our local pool fully maintained and operational, than some fancy and unnecessary development at the recreation reserve.

– Bob Holschier OAM

By Contributed

Contributed content