The Development of Mt Beauty swimming Pool This was a community development we can be very proud of. Members of the Mount Beauty and District progress Association Cr. Les Peart Cr. Alex McCullough, with YMCA Officer Stan Hemmings - S E C design draftsman Mr Graham Napier State Bank Manager, Mr Bob Sidebottom and the late Frank Hetherigton, were the movers and shakers in the development as it occurred over a 3 yr. Period.
Swimming at Mt Beauty had its beginnings in the river Pools where in the East Kiewa Cr. Les Peart ensured its success and assisted strongly in the Erection of the West Kiewa Pool on an annual basis. In the West the group had established change sheds and toilets and our very first gymkhana had been a huge success. Brought about by unfortunate river drownings and loss of life in the unsupervised Pondage and Tailrace area's and calling for a more controlled environment a meeting was conducted at Mt Beauty School.
The District Progress Association accepted the Challenge, and a baths construction. A Committee was formed within the Association to be fully supported in every way members of that group were Chairman Cr. A McCullough,Vice president Cr. Les Peart,Cr. A Tyers, Design Draftsman Graham Napier, Civil Engineer Mr Len Schwarzman, and Treasurer State Bank Manager Mr Bob Sidebottom who became the Voluntary Labour co-ordinator.
Ensuring a planning presentation which would be acceptable Mr Napier checked many sources before the presentation which Satisfied the Government and Council requirements. Checking with the public Health Department the plans were approved at the time Shire Engineer Mr R J Sibley was most helpful and Mr Howard Haymes Shire Secretary provided 1st Class financial Guidance. Our program looked towards an opening date early in 1964.
Tenders were called for the construction of a 33 1/3 meter pool and with a water capacity of 152000 litres and a wading pool 30 ft by 10 ft 4200 litre capacity. The filtration Plant would be required to service 9000 gallons an hour with a pool turnover once every 8 hours to Contract finally let to R S Baring and Sons of Rutherglen was to cost us 24000 Pounds. This was made up of Main Pool and concourse with associated piping 14 700 pounds Filtration Plant 3700 pounds,followed by Dressing sheds admin. ,Landscaping and Fencing 4600 pounds.
Through the Council we secured a government Grant for 7500 Pounds the Shire threw in 6000 pounds The Defunct Kiewa Works Motion Picture Club provided 1500 pounds along with a further 1500 pounds from the SEC along with use of a considerable amount of heavy duty plant and operators. The Progress Association was required to provide either in cash or voluntary Labour a 7500 Contribution.
And now the real work began It was March 29th 1962 by now Cr. McCullough and Cr. Peart began the construction of the framing of the dressing room and and Admin. area this work was carried out in the Double Peanut building occupied by the Addinsall Milling family and later transported to the site. The Woman's Auxiliary of the Association had been very busy and DEC 12th launched 5000 copies of a cookery book edited by Dorothy Sutton with a cover designed by Mt Beauty School girl Sheryl Ryder who had won a school competition their fund development was under way.
The part played by the Progress Association Auxiliary was without parallel the main body of this group were soundly supported by the Community at large and names like Mrs D Sutton,Mrs Dolly Loone, Rose Kinnear,Heather Churton, Glad Williams, Heather Middleton Barbara Glue Jean McCullough, Jean Newbound.

Pool History No 2

Mrs Jack Blair, Mrs N Savage Mrs Jean Mills, Mrs Gran Smith were among those I remember my Apologies to those I haven't remembered. Our Treasurer Mr Bob Sidebottom did a marvellous job organising voluntary Labour which was to assist the work area leaders, Among the weekend Voluntary workers who took part on many occasions the following list will give the present Community some idea of the dedication and support the whole Community was providing.
Leading the workforce's were Peart ,McCullough and Hetherington whose attendance at all working bees ensured successful results Noel Ortlipp, Bob Brown, Ben Sutcliffe, Robin Adair, Dave Davies, Alan Tyers ,Leon Henry ,Theo Kirschner, Rody Wills, Dave Sutton, Cyril Collis. Colin Croucher, Josh Whitlock, Jack Derbyshire, Noel Mayberry, Tom Wesley, Doug Irons, Jack Barton, Malcom Davidson, Martin Campbell, Bob Sidebottom, Brian Menzies, Noel Piera, Ted Hamilton, Clive Smith,Graham Napier, Len Penny, Wally Deans, Reg Phefley, S Newbound, Kieth Ashton, Bob Kinnear, Pat Plant, Alex Menzies, Gran Smith,Wally Best, Frank Hetherington, Bill Renshaw, Len Mann, Ron Haddon, George Monkman, Tom Luscombe, Clive Smith Ted Broadley Kevin Jones, W Field, Paul Stropiekus, A Pitman, Brian Purcell, Kelvin Peart, Barrie McCullough, Brian Talbot, S K Pearce, K Waite, G Mathews, T Pyle, W Tappe, N Gray, R Owens, V Collings, K Kries, all made sizeable contributions some more than 20 appearances they were supported by a number of Junior personal Barry Irons, Lawrence Woods, Fred Johnstone, Peter Mann, Andrew Ballard, Ricky Walton, Trevor Johnston, Peter Hertzog, Peter Mann and Dave Piera.
The second wave of volunteers appeared. W Reid, W Renshaw, H Mckendrick, Bruce Perry, R Burnett, L Thomas, K Symons, B Mills, G Smith, W Milford, P Ballard, R O'Brien, A Tyers J Stone, R Brown, A Pitman, D Irons, J OBrien, Tom Luscombe, L Mann, R Richardson,W Johnstone, W McBain, J Hughes, B O'Connor, Peter Barton, Ted OGrady, John Baker, J Curphy. S Church, R Detez, C Price, H Ziebell, M Foley These names are filed in the records of voluntary labour provided and gives a clear indication of the Community Support, that was readily available and a tribute to Bob Sidebottoms co-ordination of Volunteers.
R S Baring and sons finished on time and the grand opening occurred on the 1st January 1964 when the then premier Mr Dick Hamer officiated At the opening and congratulated the Mt Beauty Townspeople on their clear determination to have a facility which gave better protection and education to the growing population

Produced by AJ McCullough