Lifeguards needed for pool

•   Winnaleah swimming pool needs lifeguards.

By Tony Scott,
August 04, 2021

A group of residents hoping to keep the Winnaleah Pool open are planning to recruit a team of people to be trained as lifeguards.

A representative Jamie Taylor said a committee formed after a crisis meeting earlier this year has decided the option of employing qualified lifeguards was best.

The community had been told that without a lifeguard on duty insurance would not be available and the pool would not be able to open.

Previously the pool had operated on a membership basis with about 50 members issued a key to access the pool as a private facility provided they had a first aid certificate.

However, that system no longer meets insurance provisions, making it essential for a lifeguard to be in attendance whenever the pool is in use.

That will add about $7000 a season to operation costs.

The running costs of the pool are met by community fund raising and a $10,000 contribution from the Dorset Council.  

Ms Taylor said the council had also offered to fund the training of two lifeguards.

“Ideally we’d like a team of five or six lifeguards so there is some flexibility with rostering.

“We’ll need a team leader too to draw up timetables.

“That’s how the Ringarooma pool works and they’ve been really helpful in explaining what’s needed.”

She said it was hoped to organise a professional lifeguard to host an information session for people who might be interested in completing the training so they could be part of the team for the coming summer.

“There are a few locals who are interested. 

“The more we can have trained up the better really because we’ll have some flexibility with hours that they have to be on duty.”

The pool provides a valuable community service, including swimming lessons for infants to children up to 14 years old for residents from a wide area.

It’s also used for water aerobic sessions and Winnaleah School has hosted early childhood water orientation classes.