She started working as the turnstile attendant not long after the pool opened in 1935, while she was living with her parents and younger sisters at Rawson Street, Aberdare.

It was not long after the Great Depression, and while Ms. Holland was studying dress-making at Cessnock Technical College at South Cessnock that the job came up at the pool.

She realised the position would fit in well with her study, and needed the money to pay board to help out her mother.

Ms. Holland said at the time, having a pool in Cessnock was a big thing.

“Cessnock was delighted to have it,” she said.

She said she found the job interesting, and said a lot of the people that came through were neighbours or friends of hers.

“It gave me a sense of importance.”

Ms. Holland only worked at the pool for short time, leaving Cessnock at age 18 to pursue work opportunities in Sydney.

She now lives in Ballina and takes daily walks along the seaside, but still has fond memories of her time growing in Cessnock.

“I had a good life in there; I have very good memories of Cessnock.”