From the moment that the roof was put over the pool at CentrePoint 20 years ago, swimming instructor Jo Tait has been there teaching children how to swim.
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Year after year, lap after lap, Mrs Tait has been the go-to for hundreds of families in the Blayney shire, and beyond.
That service though will cease with news that once the centre is placed under the operation of the YMCA NSW in September, private swimming lessons will no longer be permitted.
"I was very disappointed when I heard the news," Mrs Tait said.
"Blayney is going to miss out now because I have 60 kids on my book at the moment, and their families are happy to follow me to either Cowra or Canowindra over summer.
"Those families will no longer shop in Blayney when they drop their kids off."
Mrs Tait said that working for the YMCA didn't suit her work timetable and neither Orange or Bathurst indoor pools allowed private swim coaching, a situation that has also forced the hand of another instructor that was looking forward to the pool reopening.
Prior to the pool closing Lanai Whittaker worked for Blayney Shire Council as a swimming instructor and was considering commencing at the pool as a private instructor.
Those plans have now been sunk and Ms Whittaker is looking at what the YMCA is offering.
"They do have many years of providing properly set up swimming courses throughout the state and that's what parents are looking for," she said.
"It's also what has been lacking at CentrePoint over the past few years."
YMCA NSW area manager Shane Simmons said that all learn to swim programs will be provided by The Y to ensure consistency of outcomes in the pool, instructor training, accreditation and compliance.
"We have a commitment to actively pursue the highest level of child safety in all of our facilities," he said.
"The Y will be launching a new 12 level swimming program for infants from six months to adults which is inclusive of the whole community including those with a disability."
"We recognise there are a number of skilled providers who have served the community in the past and we hope they will consider joining the Y team when Learn To Swim positions open for application."
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
