By Jim Powell, president of Helensburgh & District Historical Society
The community swimming pool was opened in December 1969. It came about after an outbreak of hepatitis in Helensburgh in the early 1960s. This was due to a septic tank spill-over into our creeks and dams, contaminating the water courses and favourite swimming places. An appeal was launched in our local community with large donations coming from the Miners Federation, the Joint Coal Board, our local Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub Branch and our local business community. Wollongong Council agreed to match dollar for dollar and enough money was raised to put in 25-metre swimming pool in the hope that later on an Olympic pool could go in alongside the smaller one.
How did it become the War Memorial Pool?
At the end of World War I, the local RSL Sub-Branch was formed and it took over the School of Arts building in Walker St. It had a liquor licence and held dances in the hall for fund-raising and held its meetings and other functions there, such as weddings and family parties. A flag pole was erected out the front and on the Sunday before Anzac Day and on Remembrance Day a march up the main street took place with a service held outside the RSL Hall, Cecil Everingham was the secretary during this time.
However, when the Bowling Club opened in 1953, the liquor licence transferred to the Bowling Club and patronage of the RSL Hall declined except for private functions amongst the RSL members and other local groups. The Honour Rolls and the flag Pole were moved to the Post Office, the flag pole where the Miners Statue is today and the two Honour Rolls placed in the vestibule of the Post Office. This is where the town held its Anzac & Remembrance Day services until the Memorial Cenotaph was opened in Charles Harper Park in 1993. So it was only fitting, to give the swimming pool some recognition of the sacrifices given by our service men and women. The swimming pool was a place to show friendship and freedom they fought for during the two World Wars, a place where the community spirit would live on through the next generations within the town and its hamlets.
Town marches finished around 1970, as a lot of RSL Diggers wanted to go into Sydney to meet up with old colleagues and our local Town Band wound up in 1968-69. During the 1960s when we held the services at the Post Office, Earl Dowson would play the Last Post or if he was away with the Navy I would play it for the services. Now everything happens at the Charles Harper Park Cenotaph and the event is becoming as big as it was during the 1950s and 1960s.
For more local history, visit historichelensburgh.org.au