Calling for pool pictures of our past

Greater Taree City Council is calling for the community's assistance for any photos of Council's former pools at both Taree and Cundletown to capture some history of these sites on signage.

Council is seeking any photos of both pools in use - the aim being to create a sign that depicts the pools in use and showing the history of both pools.

Greater Taree city Council Mayor, Paul Hogan is keen for all of the community to have a look through their photos and send in any that they may have of times spent at either of the former pool sites.

"I have very fond memories of the pool, learning to swim there along with my children and I'm sure many people feel the same way. Everyone has a story about learning to swim, diving from the blocks or going to swimming carnivals with their school. We are hoping people have captured some of these memories in photos and can bring them into Council for scanning. We will then collate the photos into signs that will be erected at the sites".

The signage projects are part of works currently underway at both of the old pool sites in preparation for them being re-opened to the community. The old Taree pool will offer a community performance space with stage, while the Cundletown pool will provide picnic facilities. Both of these projects have been federally funded by the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. While the majority of the works have been construction and landscaping improvements, it is also important to reflect on what the sites were originally used for.

Council's Senior Leader of Strategic Planning, Richard Pamplin is excited by the enthusiasm of the community. "Already the few people I've spoken to are excited about this project. I've learnt so many new facts about the old diving boards and that the pool was originally filled with river water. Both of the pools were very special places in our history and it will be great to have a visual reminder of the old pools through signage".

"We are seeking photos from both the Taree and Cundletown pools showing them in use. It would be great to have a mixture of photos from when the pools were opened right through to when they were closed. Photos of people on diving boards, at swimming carnivals, in the baby pools and just having fun would be great, "Mr Pamplin added.

If you have any interesting photos of the pools they can either be lodged through Councils new community engagement website www.connectingthemanning.com.au or dropped in at Council's Customer Service Centre or any of Council's libraries up until Friday 3 February 2012.

In some cases it will not be possible for the submitted photos to be scanned on the spot, so Council may need to keep them overnight for either collection the next day or they can be posted out. Council will need people to sign a form providing authority to use the image.

It is hoped that the signs will be erected on both sites early in 2012.