Final day of the season

Final day of the season

Blackheath Pool Sunday 01-Apr-2012

thanx to both model & phographer

see her online Blipfoto collection at

http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1872059 

water & air both 20°C++ at 2:30PM :) 

end of season Celebration Brunch on Sunday 1st April

Join us for Blackheath Pool end of season Celebration Brunch 
from 11AM on Sunday 01-April-2012.  

Please bring a plate to share, friends & family, togs, Sunday papers for a relaxed morning by The Pool, brunch & a swim. 

It may not have been a great summer, but our Pool is a venerable 80 years old, so let’s celebrate! (Pool Pavilion will be available if wet)

Pool hours 9:30AM to 6:30PM every day, up to & including Sunday 1 April 2012.

after the Hailstorm in Katooomba

Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre has sustained significant damage in recent storms and is closed at the moment.  Certain areas of the Centre will reopen on Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Pool area will open as normal
Fitness Centre & Group Fitness will be open
Unfortunately there will be no child minding available
Kids Kingdom, Tumbling and Sports Courts are closed until further notice

Hailstorms pummel Blue Mountains
ABC Online
Residents of Katoomba and Blackheath in the Blue Mountains described it as a wild scene...

INCREASED ACCESS TO THE POOL

As many know there is a gently inclined ramp access at one end of the Leisure Pool. Now there is also an aquatic 'Platypus' wheelchair available at The Pool - just ask Lifeguards if you'd like to use it.

***BLACKHEATH POOL feedback: CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY SURVEY

Please help BM Leisure Centres assess your satisfaction with services provided at Blackheath Pool by filling in an on-line questionnaire.  BM Leisure Centres would like your quick impressions, and it should take no more than 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Access the questionnaire here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Bluemountainsoutdoorpools2012

The Survey is open from 06-Feb-12 until 24-Feb-12
Your answers will be anonymous and confidential.

Please encourage others to provide feedback too.

Pool & Park brief mention on 'By Design'

Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park enjoyed(s) brief mention on Radio National's revamped BY DESIGN program with Fenella Kernebone... our comment on their first show last week AND comment by producer, writer & ideas curator Janne Ryan in yesterday's edition of the show.
Hitting the national stage!

Visitors Book

Look out for our new BLACKHEATH POOL VISTORS BOOK - hoping to collect memories of past times at The Pool, as well as current thoughts & suggestions...

We invite you to record your thoughts about The Pool, especially if you have memories of good times at The Pool, we would love you to record them.  All comments, suggestions & thoughts most welcome.

Yes, this is a hard-copy book! Will be housed at entry/reception area of The Ambulance Station at The Pool, for your hand-written pleasure :)

Five-Star Water Safety Rating

Congratulations to BM Leisure Centres for becoming five-star water safety partners last month. This is an important tick of approval for all five BM pools granted by Royal Life Saving Society.

Blue Mountains City Council centres at Katoomba, Lawson, Springwood, Glenbrook and Blackheath all earned the safety rating after the Royal Life Saving Society conducted safety audits of facilities. Centres passed with flying colours meeting compulsory and stringent safety benchmarks.

Great work management & staff.

don't forget your DAY PASS **available Blackheath ONLY**

ask for a Day Pass

80th birthday

The official opening of Blackheath Pool took place – eighty years ago - during the 1931 Christmas holidays.  Over ensuing years many, many thousands of happy swimmers have enjoyed this special place. In 1935 The Katoomba Daily declared it “...the finest park and swimming pool on the mountains” [quoted p.155 Blackheath Today from Yesterday (2005)]. Detailed historical information is available at http://ow.ly/7dvms. 

Today Blackheath Pool is one of the most beautifully situated public swimming baths in Australia – set amongst sweeping lawns and the now mature rhododendrons, at over 1000 metres above sea level – providing swimming with altitude.

Xmas pressie idea...

Home of summer swimming since 1931 - 80 years young.

The Official opening took place – eighty years ago - during the 1931 Christmas holidays.  Over ensuing years many thousands of happy swimmers enjoy this special place. 

In 1935 The Katoomba Daily declared it “...the finest park and swimming pool on the mountains...” *

From the late 1870s a dam fed by natural creeks and hanging swamps was established. This was the water reservoir for steam engines reaching the highest point of the western railway crossing the Blue Mountains. After WW1 locals began showing interest in the area surrounding the dam for recreational purposes. In January 1919 the area was set aside as a reserve for recreation. In December of the same year the Blackheath Municipal Council was formed – a not unconnected event!


Two years later James Dawes, superintendent of Sydney's Centennial Park came to Blackheath to advise on the potential of the land to become a unique park. The citizens of Blackheath raised 1,000 pounds to finance development as a park. The Memorial Park was established by the community to commemorate those who lost their lives in WW1, each rhododendron planted in memory of one of the 77 Blackheath casualties. The Park it is an enduring symbol of peace, and The Pool of the healing value of water. 

Although swimming in the dam was officially prohibited, locals larrikins couldn't resist its lure hot summer days.  Gradually the former dam was recognised as having potential as a swimming pool. In 1929 Blackheath Alderman Peter Sutton called a public meeting which formed a Citizens' Committee to organise voluntary labour and raise funds. During community working bees on Wednesday afternoons and weekends the dams were cleaned out, graded to the necessary depths and the bottoms gravelled. Old railway sleepers were painted white and placed to define the embankments.

Detailed historical information is available at http://ow.ly/7dvms . 

Today Blackheath Pool is one of the most beautifully situated public swimming baths in Australia – set amongst sweeping lawns and the now mature rhododendrons, at over 1000 metres above sea level – providing swimming with altitude.


**quoted p.155 Blackheath Today from Yesterday (2005)

Aquarobics?

register your interest with FoBP&MP member 

Jane Chalker jc@exemail.com.au or 0409 364 640

just two weeks to go

Aquarobics anyone?

register your interest with FoBP&MP member 

Jane Chalker jc@exemail.com.au or 0409 364 640

Have a great Rhododendron Parade


Blackheath Memorial Park (& Pool) sildeshow http://ow.ly/7jDRM   

Teddy Bears Picnic - Saturday 22 October

FoBP&MP collaborated with Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre & others on a Teddy Bears Picnic to celebrate Childrens Week 2011.
Was a big success on  beautiful Blackheath Day 150+ kids, parents, friends & their Teddies attended

Took place Saturday 22^nd October from 11AM to 1PM in Blackheath Memorial Park beneath the shading oaks near the Duck Pond & resplendent in new Spring growth.

Pool to open 9:30AM to 6:30PM every day!

We're very pleased to announce that Council voted this evening for Blackheath Pool to be open for a block of nine hours each & every day of the 2011-12 season.  Hours will be 9:30AM to 6:30PM every day.  


FoBP&MP campaigned across the off-season to achieve this outcome.  We thank Mayor Daniel Myles for bringing the matter to tonight's meeting as a matter of urgency, and Cr Terri Hamilton for her support.  BM Leisure Centres management & staff will now be able to proceed with planning the upcoming season, which commences on Saturday 26 November. 

POOL HOURS - next season

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:
Council has decided to reduce Blackheath Pool’s hours for the 2011/12 season, and to return to a split-shift approach to opening hours outside school holidays i.e. 7-10AM & 3-7PM weekdays.

The Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park committee is considering recommending an alternative approach - to allocate hours in a single block across ALL days of the season.

We’ve come up with three options, and would like to know your opinions on:
1. 9AM to 6PM every day
2. 10AM to 7PM every day
3. 9AM to 6PM in school terms & 10AM to 7PM during school holidays

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Leave your thoughts here, or email friendsofblackheathpool@gmail.com
Thank you.