Holiday reading: Excuse me, you’re supposed to represent me, don’t do this

A protester speaks

By Andrew McKenna
Pics by Matt Wobbly

published 21 June 2010

Organisers estimate more than 300 people turned out for the demonstration on Saturday morning at Western Reserve to save this Shire’s small pools. They said around sixty walked from Chewton, another 40-50 came from Harcourt, and the rest piled in from all over.

One of the organisers, Rose Darling, met with Councillors earlier in the week.

‘We wanted to separate the proposed closure of our pools from the development of an aquatic centre,’ she said.

‘We’re not against the aquatic centre.’

She and others met with four councillors to have informal discussions, and before Rose was called on to speak at Saturday morning’s meeting, she said she didn’t gain any ground in separating the issues.

‘I’ve never swum in the Chewton Pool,’ she said, addressing the meeting.

‘The future of Chewton is at stake here, and as someone said the school will be next. We nearly lost the Post Office. People don’t always want to live in the biggest town. We are doing this for the future. We are not Woy Woy, we are not Keilor East, all places our CEO has been busy building aquatc centres.

‘This shire is not a cookie cutter. We don’t want our pools closed. It’s not just not us who’ll be affected.’

She urged people to call their local representatives on Council and make it clear they did not want the pools cloed.

The Apple King and queen from Harcourt

‘Excuse me, you’re supposed to represent me, don’t do this,’ she said.

Fritz Hammersley, one of the organisers of Saturday’s rally, took the podium and he said ‘As we speak in the Gulf of Mexico oil is spewing into the sea’.

He said we would pay higher costs at the bowser for this spill, and as we approach Peak Oil we are certainly looking at higher oil prices. The new centre would require people to get there by driving and catching a bus and that was not costed in.

‘All the costing for the Aquatic Centre is based on today’s figures. Despite what anyone tells you it has no green credentials.’

He proposed that the Chewton Icebergers be formed, so we could use the pool year round.

‘If people want to join me, I will,’ he said.

Gary Holmes, President of the Harcourt 2020 Committee, lamented how Harcourt had lost the running of the pool two years ago t the YMCA.

‘In many ways we saw the guts ripped out of the place,’ he said.

‘It’s not longer a community place. How does Council engage a community? Stupidly enough I think they figured it out by closing a couple of really god pools.’

One speaker said Councillors had changed their style when they realised the depth of militancy in the community. No one is about to roll over and see their pools shut.

Mayor, Cr Philip Schier addressed the assembly and he said he knew we live in a passionate and engaged community.

‘We have a long record of resolving difficulties. One of my commitments to you today is to listen and to take it on board.’

This was echoed by councillors Henderson and Cross. The politicians are going to listen.

Lady Godiva (Jasmine Samson) and Harold the horse

Cr Schier said Council’s independent advice was that they could not afford to build a new facility and maintain five outdoor pools, so Castlemaine, Chewton and Harcourt will have to close if we are to get a new indoor pool.

According to this rationale, Councillors’ hands are tied. Cr Henderson later said that funding for shire swimming pools from the State Government is linked to new indoor aquatic facilities.

‘We don’t want to close any pools,’ Cr Schier said.

‘We would like to have an indoor pool and keep the outdoor pools. It’s a difficult choice for Council. Council hasn’t made its mind up on this issue. I can guarantee that’s not the case. We’re still wrestling with the issues. We will continue to sit down at the round table with representatives of this community. We’re willing to talk through the hard issues.

‘We will provide as much data as we can. We understand an open and transparent decision making process is important…We will arrange meetings on site at Chewton and Harcourt where people can ask questions … Refilling of Chewton and Harcourt pools will start on Monday.

‘One perception is that the decision has been made. I guarantee the decision hasn’t been made.’

Jack Merlo 82 years old. Castlemaine resident and business man. Former Mayor in 1985 addresses the crowd on his way to the race track.

Cr Christine Henderson backed the Mayor.

‘I have to say congratulations to those who have come here,’ she said.

‘The only way to get significant money for pools is to build an indoor one.’

Cr Tracey Cross reiterated the Mayor’s position.

‘The decision hasn’t been made,’ she said.

‘When the decision is made we hope it is the fairest decision for all.’

The words are nice, but they offer no reassurance.