History of the Barraba Pool
Barraba War Memorial Swimming Pool
As remembered and told by the late Mo Witten.
Suggestions for a swimming pool for Barraba were first recorded in 1958. Several local townspeople expressed the view that if small country towns were to survive then amenities such as baths and sporting facilities must be provided.
One interested man, Mr Stan Hancock, a member of the local Council decided, without success, to get council to back a request for funds for baths from the local government department. However, he persisted and with support from Cr Leon Punch eventually persuaded Council to apply for a grant. It was expected that some years would elapse before a grant would be forthcoming.
So, a Baths committee was formed to raise money to assist in construction. Sometime in the future, however, much to the surprise of Council, the Shire Clerk, Charles Swinbourne requested a special meeting of Council to advise the CD within one week, if Barraba would accept a grant for the pool. Again, thinking that it was years away, the grant was accepted. Then, when it was available, some time later, the Council, in a close vote, rejected the Grant. Some hard feelings were created in the Town and District and much discussion took place. Feelings ran high and tempers flared. Letters for and against were published in “The Chronicle”. The Local (Council) was accused of bias.
But Stan Hancock and his committee would not lie down and eventually won. A Ladies Baths Auxiliary was led by Kath White in money raising. Housie was conducted in the old Odd-Fellows Hall every Saturday night. A Queen Competition raised nearly 6000 pounds. Offers of voluntary help poured in, money was promised. Several bodies, including the RSL, the Barraba Bowling Club pledged support and members of Council staff also gave support.
Councils decision was reversed and a Grant accepted. Land on the corner of Queen and Savoy Street was purchased. Peter Horniman – Shire Engineer – with Baths Committee Members, gave up weekends to travel and inspect other swimming pools. Then Peter designed and planned the Baths. The size of the Baths was debated at length and taking into account the size of the town and the money available, the right decision was made. A tremendous amount of voluntary labour helped to keep costs down and enabled the whole project to be completed in good time and virtually debt free.
Construction started when Kath White - President of The Ladies Baths Auxiliary, drove John Patterson’s Caterpillar Bulldozer to turn the first sod. Kath had never driven a car, let alone a 14-ton monster, but she received a standing ovation when she successfully performed the ceremony.
The Baths were officially opened by the Hon. P. N. Ryan MLA on 14th November, 1964 with a large gathering witnessing the ceremony. The crowd was estimated at 2000 people. After the unveiling of the plaque, a short, impressive ceremony, dedicating the Baths as a War Memorial was conducted by Major General I. Dougherty, NSW Director of Civil Defence. The party then moved inside the complex where a stone drinking fountain was unveiled by Patty Graham (from St Joseph’s School) and Allan Smith (representing Barraba Central School) to honour the Chairman of the Baths committee, Mr Stan Hancock, and to express the thanks of all the children of Barraba for his untiring efforts in making this wonderful facility a reality.