Pool reopens thanks to community

Warrington School pupils  (from left) Sophie Boyle (10), Rosa Cameron (10, partly obscured), Annie Boyle (8), Georgia McKinnon (9), Madi Lobb (9), Anton McMillan (7), Kahu Turoa (8), Jake Hibbert (9), Arlo Bickerstaff (8) and Nicholas Hayes (7) yesterday
Warrington School pupils (from left) Sophie Boyle (10), Rosa Cameron (10, partly obscured), Annie Boyle (8), Georgia McKinnon (9), Madi Lobb (9), Anton McMillan (7), Kahu Turoa (8), Jake Hibbert (9), Arlo Bickerstaff (8) and Nicholas Hayes (7) yesterday celebrate the reopening of the school pool. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Warrington School has bucked a national trend by reopening its school pool this week.

The Warrington community raised about $20,000 to get the pool back up to standard.

The pool was made available to the school's 37 pupils on Tuesday, in time for the start of the school year.

It had fallen into disrepair over the last three years because of minimal funding allocated by the Ministry of Education.

Pupil Bruno McMillan (9) said it was ‘‘cool'' to have the pool open again.

‘‘It's fun. We haven't had it for ages, so it's cool to have it back,'' he said.

Principal Jeff Burrow said the generosity of the community and the work of the board of trustees had made it possible to have children learning to swim and be safe in a pool again.

‘‘They [school pools] are a dying breed, really,'' Mr Burrow said.

‘‘It was just a big community effort ... to get it up and running again. We were very lucky to get funding through the board from community trusts.''

The pool was close to being closed permanently and that would have been unfortunate for pupils, who spent a large amount of time at the beach.

Logistically, it was tough to get pupils into the city for lessons, Mr Burrow said.

‘‘This was on the brink. We got minimal funding from the ministry. It's that tipping point about whether you go through with it and whether you value it in the community,'' he said.

New lining and filtration systems were added and general maintenance carried out, mostly by people and businesses from the Warrington community.

Board chairwoman Rachel Ozanne said it was a big project, but it was worth it for the children.

‘‘It's awesome for these little kids. They are so excited,'' she said.

‘‘We've done it, Warrington, that little school in the middle of nowhere.''

Everything needed an upgrade, she said.

‘‘The Ministry of Education provide no money to support school swimming pools. We have been extremely lucky to have the support of local companies.

‘‘The school community have put in many hours of voluntary work tidying the pool up and are delighted that the pool will once again be in use.''

Water Safety New Zealand spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said 156 school pools had closed in the past six years, so it was ‘‘absolutely brilliant'' the Warrington pool was open again.

‘‘We congratulate the community,'' Ms Pannett said.

‘‘It's really great to see it's been made a priority by the school community. That's a fantastic achievement.''

For the past year, Water Safety New Zealand had run a campaign to save 130 school pools, led by ambassador, Olympic swimmer Lauren Boyle.

The Warrington School pool was not one of the 130, Ms Pannett said.

rhys.chamberlain@odt.co.nz

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