Share your memories at Cessnock Pool’s 80th birthday splash

Event organiser and Cessnock Amateur Swimming Club (ASC) life member Jan Williams said the day will be a reunion of some of the original swimmers at the club, but that anyone with any connection to the pool is invited to come along.

Mrs Williams, who was also part of the 1956 Australian Olympic training squad, has spent seven years collecting memorabilia and records from over the years, which will be on display on the day.

The pool was constructed by Ernest George Palmer in 1934 and opened by Minister for Labour and Industry J. M. Dunningham MLA on Saturday, November 16, 1935 as the Cessnock Municipal Swimming Pool.

The first turnstile attendant, Elsie Doyle (Drummond) still lives in Cessnock at the RFBI Masonic Village.

The first life member and previous president of Cessnock ASC was Charles Guy Holdway, who won a bronze medal for Britain at the 1908 Olympics in the steeplechase event.

Originally the pool was 55 yards long before it was shortened to 50 metres to conduct the NSW Country Swimming Championships from January 26-28, 1957.

As an attraction during the annual carnival of 1938/39, Lionel Yardy was doused in methylated spirits and lit on fire before jumping into the pool from the three metre diving board.

Cessnock was also the first club in the area to have water polo teams, and held popular bathing beauty and lovely legs contests.

The NSW Ladies Water Nymphs also made a visit to the baths in 1951, to present their water ballet.

During the 1950’s, “Big” Bill Roberts would swim the entire length of the pool underwater during breaststroke races, which would be illegal by today’s rules.

The pool has hosted many learn-to-swim lessons, championship events, training days and school carnivals over the past 80 years.

The gathering starts at 10am on Saturday and there will be a get-together lunch held afterwards at Hotel Cessnock from 1pm.