By Mikayla van Loon
Ever since the closure of the Kilsyth Centenary Pool, the aqua aerobics group has disbanded, not for a lack of trying to stay together, but without a home base, accessing other facilities has been near impossible.
Not only has it been a loss of physical exercise for a group primarily aged upwards of 60, but also a breakdown in social connection.
For one member of the group, Moira Hughs, who joined almost 20 years ago, it has been devastating to watch the friendships somewhat fade and struggle because the pool is no longer there.
“We met so many friends in that period of time and it’s a very close group. It’s a very social group. We had all sorts of morning teas quite regularly,” she said.
“People came because they’re at a loss. Maybe they want to get fit. Maybe they’re just isolated and isolation is a big thing, or if kids said to their mothers ‘you must do something, get out meet people’, and they have met friends and it’s become a really important part of their lives.”
Moira said while the group still attempted to organise lunches and coffee catch ups, it’s not quite the same.
Knowing the physical and social benefits first hand, Moira said for a long period her husband attended classes after he was diagnosed with dementia.
“He came with me each morning. Everyone accepted him from the guy running it all, down to the staff, the instructors, members, they all used to talk to him,” she said.
“One of the most important things [for a dementia patient] is social interaction. It’s incredibly crucial and they gave it to him. He used to come to all the morning teas and things like that. It made a huge difference to him and his quality of life. So that was important to me.”
The light, gentle exercise with the resistance of the water was also ideal, not only for her husband, but for anyone, especially, Moira said, as people and herself age.
“This is incredibly important as an exercise for everybody, particularly anyone with mobility issues [or who is] getting fragile, just pushing against the water you’ve got resistance. So you can build up muscular strength, which also helps with osteoporosis.”
Because the Kilsyth pool offered a pelican lift to assist people with getting into the water, Moira said it was incredibly inclusive and was an option for people to stay fit who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
Upon hearing a splash park may be being considered for the site, Rebuild the Kilsyth Pool lead petitioner Janis Floyd said they did not cater to what a large group of the population need.
“Everybody from babies up to 10 or 11 years old have a great time at the splash parks. And then from 10 years old to 18 years old they go to the pump track things,” she said.
“That’s great but where does that leave the autistic people, the disabled, the old people. It’s not all inclusive.”
Now even trying to access a class or a lane at either the Croydon or Monbulk pools was near impossible, Moira said.
“I’ve been going to Croydon now. They’re very nice people there. It’s good but I can’t get into an exercise class,” she said.
“I just take my dumbbells and do my own thing. I think most of them do that. They do the best they can. Or you can also use a couple of other lanes for swimming, to do laps but 25 metres isn’t much.”
For one of the group’s oldest members, who is 96, she has dropped off from exercising completely.
Others find the drive or transport to Monbulk, Yarra Junction or Croydon challenging.
“It’s caused a lot of resentment. I can go to the Croydon pool but I’m not paying rates in Croydon,” Moira said.
“I’ve been paying rates since 1966 in this shire and it sticks really that I haven’t got easy access to a pool.”
Moira said there has been an offer from Yarra Ranges Council to use a private pool facility at a subsidised rate but said it may not be suitable based on the depth of the water.
The temperature of the water is also a necessary consideration because “if you do heavy, vigorous exercise in a warm pool, it puts a strain on the heart”.
The council confirmed it was working with Belgravia Leisure to find suitable options for groups to continue classes.
“Belgravia Leisure, on behalf of the council, has offered other members, including swim school members, options to be accommodated at other facilities across Yarra Ranges and at nearby facilities where possible,” a council spokesperson said.
“The council is working with a private company to try to establish aqua aerobics session/s within the urban area to assist people maintain physical activity.”
According to the council, Lilydale Swimming Club has moved to the Yarra Centre at Yarra Junction and has been provided “permanent lane space and storage areas”.
A masterplan for Kiloran Reserve is in the pipeline, while contractors are assessing the demolition of the remaining structures.
“The remaining parts of the old pool infrastructure are being assessed for possible re-use and to optimise the best methods for dismantling. Council will need to go through a tender process to complete these works.
“Council will undertake a Masterplan for the future use of Kiloran Park later this year and this process will involve working with the community around possible uses.”
The plan will also take into consideration the special building overlay applied to the land because “the area can be impacted during heavy rainfall events”.
“This overlay impacts a small section of land where the pool was, the northern oval and the area close to the miniature railway,” the council said.
“When the masterplan for the park is created this will be taken into account with regards to the potential uses.”
But for Moira and Janis the loss of the pool is more than just a structure, “it was really part of the social fabric” and it was a place where you belonged.
Their hope now is a similar space can be provided to offer connection and exercise to people of all abilities.
