Take the heat off all year round

By Lia Bichel
AN INDOOR pool operating all year in Noble Park would enormously assist many disabled people, the chief executive officer of a disability centre said.
WATCH Disability Services CEO Bernie Baillie said the Mulgrave centre offered a range of programs and services to about 50 people with disabilities in and around Greater Dandenong.
The centre offers a number of skill development programs five days a week, including a swimming and hydrotherapy program.
“Swimming programs especially benefit people who require extra movement in gently environments,” she said. “We have been using the Dandenong Oasis swimming pool for the last 10 years – but over the years it has become increasingly busy. It is very crowded, which is no fault of Dandenong Oasis, but because it is the only pool available in the area.”
Ms Baillie said the Dandenong Oasis hydrotherapy pool was in great demand, and if there was another indoor warm water pool available, the centre would access both.
She said many of the people who access WATCH Disability Service’s programs live in residential units in and near Noble Park.
“We offer day programs, so if there was a swimming pool close to them I am sure they would use it outside our hours,” she said. “We definitely support the council call for funding.”
Besides providing health benefits, Ms Baillie said she had seen the social opportunities swimming provides.
“Looking back over the years spent with Dandenong Oasis, there has been a lot of friendships formed. It would be nice to establish that type of connection in another environment.”