Yesterday will be a day Roxburgh’s hardworking swimming pool advocate Sally Feinerman will never forget.
For 16 long years she and the Roxburgh Pool Committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get a new swimming pool for the town in the heart of Central Otago’s fruit lands.
The $3 million, solar-powered facility has been built on the site of the 91-year-old former pool, which was demolished in 2022.
The "immensely proud" Mrs Feinerman was eloquent in her gratitude and praise for community support and funding from a many trusts and organisations, including the naming sponsor Ida MacDonald Trust.
The pool was not just a structure but a place of enrichment for the community, she said.
"The pool will bear witness to the stories of our lives ... It is a beacon of health for our community," she said.
When asked more than 12 years ago to join the committee, she had no idea what a roller coaster ride it would be.
"I am not sure I am ready for another project yet," she said.
Dignitaries included the Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan, along with many other local government elected representatives and council staff.
First to take a dip was Donna Parker, a former neighbour of the late Knobby Hills farmer Ida MacDonald, for whom the pool was named.
Mrs Parker learned to swim at the old pool and was looking forward to swimming with her grandchildren at the new pool.
The Ida MacDonald Trust was a key funder of the pool and Mrs Parker said her neighbour would have been delighted to see it in action.
"Miss MacDonald was our neighbour out on the Knobbys. She would be so proud."
"The water is very refreshing. They have done a great job. The location is awesome," Mrs Parker said.
Retired Roxburgh resident Alistair Mouat was thrilled with the four-lane 25m pool.
"It is brilliant. It is warm — 27°C — and the right depth to swim in. I will be here early in the morning and do a few lengths. It [the site] is pretty special, overlooking the river and close to the school," Mr Mouat said.
The pool is next to bike trails and the Roxburgh Area School and overlooks the Clutha River.
