Archives Corner

Mr Anthony Kelly

The Old College Pool

In 1929 the “swimming baths” (pool) was built on the College grounds. Many great carnivals in both swimming and diving were held by not only De La Salle students, but by people from around the region. ‘Old Greenie” as it was known, had no filter or chemicals and to keep it clean and an was filled from the bore down in the back paddock and it was only clear for the first part of the session, then turned and mouldy green colour.  I remember coming over on weekends to have a dip with my big brothers and can tell you, it was freezing. Mr Osborne remembers when “old greenie” had to be cleaned, the Brother’s would grab some students (that needed a little focus) to scrub it out with brushes. 

In 1980 some industrious boys climbed under the protective fence, as it had been several years since it had been used and they managed to get into the large pit that housed the valve which let the water run out into the back paddock.  One of the boys (whom I will not disclose) noticed a two metre circular section of the soil which made up the wall was a different shade of soil one thought it could be the elusive tunnel system that they had heard about (another story to come).  We are sure that many of our alumni will have their own recollections of ‘Old Greenie’ prior to Brother John Pill organising the pool to be filled in, marking the end of an era for swimming sports at the school.