By Callum Ludwig
Whether it’s pulling up a picnic rug and parking yourself on the grass for a day of lounging around or heading in for a dip in the water, a day out at the local pool is the best way to cool off in the summer sun.
However, there are different rules that apply to your local pool than to the one at your neighbours and it’s important to be considerate of other people during your time there.
Centre Manager of the Lilydale Outdoor Pool Matthew Phillips said to be mindful of other people.
“We are a family pool, so if you are playing music, make sure it’s family-friendly. We also have swimming lanes for dedicated swimmers who come here for their exercise and practice so please stay out of their way and if you are throwing around a ball, be mindful of others around you,” he said.
“The local public pool has a community aspect that you don’t get at home, with like-minded people who come with their families and set up a picnic for the day, so it’s a good opportunity to socialise and make friends but you also must respect their use of the pool too.”
The Lilydale Outdoor Pool is open from 1pm to 6pm every day above 23 degrees in summer.
At least two trained lifeguards are present at the pool every day, with more on busier days and on inflatable Thursdays, held during January. 25 lifeguards in total are employed at the pool.
Mr Phillips said to respect lifeguards, who are there to enforce the rules for everyone’s safety.
“Our lifeguards are a person like anyone else, they’re polite, friendly and will come over and say hello and inform you of anything in a polite and educational way, they’re not making it up as they go along, it’s the same set of rules for everyone,” he said.
“We also have a slogan ‘lifeguards save lives and parents supervise’ all children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised, mum and dad can’t have their heads in a book or on their phone, they must be watching at all time. Kids under the age of five must be within arm’s reach. Some kids have had swimming lessons and are competent swimmers, but they are still little so they fatigue quickly and don’t know the extent of their ability.”
Important rules to keep in mind include no running around the pool, no diving in water shallower than 1.8m, no smoking, no vaping, no alcohol and no glass or sharp objects.
Mr Phillips said a public pool facility is crucial to a growing community.
“It’s important we do have access to a facility like this, that everyone is welcome to on the hot days to come and cool down, get their laps in or just come on down and say hello,” he said.
