“Flat out of dough” The building of the first John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool.

“All time president” Mr John Houston, speaking at the official opening of Hay Pool, which was held after more than 10,000 patrons had been through the gate. Behind Mr Houston is Cr Lon Connellan, president of the Shires Association, Hay Shire President RW Davies, Minister for Justice Hon, JC Maddison and Member for Murrumbidgee AJ Grassby MLC, and the wives of the various dignatories.

By Krista Schade

As works continue on a new modernised series of pools at the swimming pool site in Lachlan Street, we look back to 1967 and how one man’s vision and community spirit brought the dream into reality.

The original Hay Centennial Olympic Pool was officially opened on November 3, 1967 by a barrage of VIPs and visiting dignitaries, including the Minister for Justice, Member for Murrumbidgee Al Grassby, public works officials, past Mayors and former councillors.

Hay Shire President Cr RW (Ralph) Davies announced during the opening ceremony that the pool cost “not less than $165,000.”

The Riverine Grazier reported on the front page on November 7, 1967 that other amenities needed for the pool would have to wait for some time (as) Cr Davies added that Council is “flat out of dough for the time being.”

Luckily the Minister for justice had been invited along, to represent the Minister for Pubic Works, and he announced a grant of $1,000 to seal the carpark with tar.

The celebrations paid tribute to the ten years of lobbying and fundraising – to the tune of $29,000 – by the community of Hay.

Particular appreciate was paid to Mr Jack Houston, who was described in The Grazier as the “all time president” of the fundraising committee. More than a decade earlier Mr Houston had begun petitioning for a local swimming pool, as a safer alternative to children learning to swim in, and playing around in, the unpredictable Murrumbidgee River.

The Grazier captured Mr Houston’s speech;

“Mr Houston told the children the way to the achievement of the pool had not been easy, but now that it was here, it was for the children to enjoy and to relieve their parents of the ever-present worry of young children swimming unattended in the river.

“Mr Houston concluding his speech said that he was so happy if they struck up an appropriate tune, he and the Pool Committee would dance a jig.”

The Riverine Grazier covered the excitement of the finalisation of the Hay Pool for several months. Above: The finishing touches - painting the lane guide lines on the bottom of the pool - were completed by hand.

Exhibition swimmers took to the pool and wowed the crowds until a freak storm hit.

Luckily most official duties were finished when a dust storm hit and caused everyone to scramble to gather up towels and umbrellas.

The storm “reduced visibility to no more than twenty-five yards” and took out the electricity for half an hour.

“Inconvenience was experienced … when it was not possible to make announcements during the exhibition swims and it also hampered the boiling of water to provide afternoon tea for the large crowd,” The Grazier reported.

Despite the opening ceremony being held in November, The Grazier reported that more than 10,000 patrons had already visited the brand-new facility by the time the official celebrations were held. The record for a single day’s attendance then stood at 900 and interestingly patrons were eagerly paying an entry fee. Nowadays, Hay boasts one of the few free swimming pools in the country.

Before the opening event, Rome Olympics silver medallist Geoff Shipton had visited and swum several laps to demonstrate to the delighted children his champion freestyle action.

The first official children to swim in the pool were the captains of the three schools: Michael Primrose of Rhonda Dillon from the High School, Steven Senimi and Patricia Tompkins from the Convent School and Paul Cohen and Diana Hunt from the Primary School.

They dived into the pool from the diving blocks, following a ‘start’ from John Houston, in front of a large crowd.

From the pages of The Riverine Grazier: “Knowing they would see water in the pool on Wednesday morning, Micky and Darlene O’Hara were up at the “crack of dawn,” and could not resist the temptation of being the first to wet their feet. They are pictured here on the steps of the deep end of the pool where a fire host fed a continuous stream of water into the pool for almost 18 hours. Their father, Terry O’Hara looks pleased to see the pool actually filling.”

Even earlier than this, in March 1967, Micky and Darlene O’Hara got up at the crack of dawn, knowing that water was finally being pumped into the new pool. They were pictured on the front page of The Grazier with their father, Terry, who was manning the hose. The kids were unable to resist the temptation to get their feet wet.

Once there was enough water, pool superintendent John Atkinson went for a dip, after two months in Hay finalising the project.

Council also had the remainder of the pool site (bordered by Macauley, Church and Edward Streets) signed over to them in 1967 by the Lands Department, and debated whether to set it aside for use as a recreation area or a kindergarten.

At the time, Cr Davies said Council should “make an early decision” however it was some fourty years later before the current children’s park was completed.

After Mr Houston’s death in 1988 the pool was renamed in his honour.