Media Release

4 July 2007

Immediate release

Olympic Gold Medallist supports Edgeware Pool

Two times Olympic Gold Medallist, Danyon Loader, has dived in to help the St Albans community in their attempt to save the Edgeware Pool.

The Edgeware Pool community facility has played a major part of the St Albans Community since 1936, when the Edgeware Pool Swim Club’s first champion was recorded on their swim cup trophy. Many thousands of adults and children of all ages have participated in swim club and recreational activities at the pool for over 70 years.

The value of having easy access to a local community, swimming pool is not lost on one of New Zealand’s greatest swimming champions. “I started swimming, because my Dad would walk me down to the local pool, which was just two blocks away, in the weekends. That’s where I began” said Danyon Loader, “if I hadn’t had that opportunity, I would not have found the confidence and enjoyment in the water, and may never have been able to go as far as I have”.

The Christchurch City Council who owns the community facility on behalf of the community, have said the pool has not been well maintained over the years and is now too costly to fix. Save the Edgeware Pool campaigners say the pool is not only worth fixing but can be fixed. “We had an independent pool engineer look at the pool” says Anysley Macnab of Save the Edgeware Pool Committee, “he said there is no doubt it can be fixed and for a much lesser amount than the Council states”.

Danyon Loader, who currently helps advise and mentor young swimmers, says no cost is too high to give children easy access to a local pool and an opportunity to swim. “The intangible aspect such as confidence, respect and enjoyment for the water is priceless to anyone. They can then go further to enjoy the rivers, lakes, oceans and beaches. There is a Govt movement to get kids active, and swimming is one such skill that can lead into so many other activities”.

Campaigners of Save the Edgeware Pool say, “If they take the pool away from the community, what are our youth going to do”, said Pauline Cotter, “this closure goes against almost all council’s own policies”.

Danyon recognises the importance of any such facility staying open, and hopes all councils will similarly recognise them too.

The community are pledging their support by marching to Save the Edgeware Pool on Sunday 23rd July.

ENDS

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