Halls Creek swimming pool


Rod Woolf with children

Watching a group of children splashing about while learning to swim in a sparkling blue, 25 metre swimming pool is hardly an unusual sight.

Except in Halls Creek, which, until recently did not have its own pool – even though the town is consistently one of the hottest places in Western Australia.

Watching the high school students practising their strokes, Darren Foynes, a lifeguard sponsored by Garnduwa, the peak Indigenous sporting body in the Kimberley, says, “This is the best thing to have happened to Halls Creek in 20 years.”

He means the Halls Creek Aquatic and Recreational Centre, which, having opened early in 2006 has already become an important resource and social hub for the local community.

“At weekends the place is packed,” says Rod Woolf, the Centre manager who’s managed pools in Alice Springs and all over Queensland.

“While older children and adults swim in the big pool, families with little ones gather around the shallow splash pool. And pretty soon they’ll be able to sit in the shade, as Argyle Diamonds is making a significant contribution towards the cost of buying and erecting shade sails around the place.”

“This is the most modern pool I have ever managed,” Rod continues. “The water goes through the filtration process every two hours and the use of chlorine gas means we can ensure swimming is as hygienically safe as possible.”

“The benefits of the pool in both health and education are exceptional,” says Taylor Webb, a physical education teacher at the local high school.

“We have been operating a ‘no school – no pool’ policy and many kids who didn’t turn up at school very often before are now coming regularly because they want to swim. And the local doctors are reporting a reduction in kids’ ear infections, which they ascribe to swimming. If students have ear infections they can’t hear – which means they learn nothing in school and are usually disruptive.”

Attached to the pool is a vast arena suitable for basketball, volleyball and netball. “Previously the teams had to play outside, either in dust or mud, depending on the weather,” Taylor adds. “Now they have a proper hard court. They can even show movies there,” he says.

“With the support of people like those from Argyle Diamonds and Garnduwa,” Rod adds “the Aquatic Centre is making a major difference to the community.”