Community
5 December, 2024
Club eyes two-town expansion
TERANG Swimming Club is planning an expansion to utilise both Terang and Mortlake swimming pools in a bid to emerge from dire times.
The club is currently finalising plans to host sessions at both Terang and Mortlake pools, an expansion which has been explored with support from Corangamite and Moyne Shire councils.
Outgoing Terang Swimming Club president Lisa Chesshire said it was hoped the move could bring the club stability after lingering on the precipice of having to close.
As Western District Newspapers reported in September 2023, the club had reached a “crisis point” and was on the verge of recession with low numbers – particularly volunteers to assist in operations.
Between COVID-19 restrictions impacting participation, and shortened swimming seasons due to significant rain and cold weather during recent summers, the club has endured years of hardship believes creating new opportunities in Mortlake could help to put the club in a stronger position.
“The club has been in dire straights because we haven’t had enough members,” Ms Chesshire said.
“We’re wanting to branch out because there’s been a lot of interest in the Mortlake area because they have a great facility.
“It’s a 50-metre pool in Mortlake – the only 50 metre pool between Warrnambool and Colac.
“The Mortlake Swimming Club hasn’t been existent for over 10 years, so why not use the pool and try to get new members involved.
“We’ve been asked a few times to take the swimming club over there but there’s been issues with having the manpower to do it.”
Ms Chesshire said Moyne Shire Council had been approached with the concept to expand Terang Swimming Club meetings in to Mortlake, which quickly drew support.
“Moyne Shire Council was rapt we were considering it, and we’re now just fine-tuning and getting contacts in place,” she said.
“It’s a great idea to do it, but we’ve got to get it documented.
“The only tricky aspect which is going to be Moyne Shire has a cold-weather policy – the pool closes if it’s below 19 degrees.
“But we’ve had strong support from Mortlake – we’ve got members from there, and at last year’s annual swim carnival we had great support from Mortlake businesses who were really keen to see it grow.”
Ms Chesshire said in addition to support the club and its participants, the initiative could also help to support both pools as vital community assets which have endured financial hardship over the past few years.
“If you don’t lose it, you use it,” she said.
“There’s no money in the pools, and if we don’t support it there may come a day when the shires have to say enough is enough.
“It’s a great opportunity to build participation in Mortlake.”
Terang Swimming Club secretary Cindy McDougall said she believed the expansion to Mortlake would reduce the barriers for everyone across the community to get involved.
“There isn’t a lot of options locally for kids to have good, healthy past-times,” she said.
“This is an opportunity for kids to get out there, increase their fitness, increase their social network making friends, have some fun and learn an important life skill.
“A lot of kids still don’t know how to swim, and we lost some years due to COVID-19 which impacted on some of the younger ones learning to swim.”
The use of both Terang and Mortlake pools for training is expected to begin when Mortlake Swimming Pool opens for the year this weekend.
The Terang Swimming Club runs on both Tuesday and Thursday afternoon each week.
Anyone interested in learning more can visit Terang Swimming Club on Facebook or email terangswimmingclub@gmail.com.