Learning to Swim at the Rhokana Pool

From Great North Road

By Philip Pain.

Philip Pain and Jimmy Carew at the Rhokana Pool +/- 1962.

It was about this time in my life (5-6 yrs) that my brothers thought it was time to teach me to swim. This happened at the Rhokana mine swimming pool and was achieved by throwing me into the deep end.

I remember hot summer days waiting on the steps with your towel & costume rolled up like a Swiss roll for the gates to open and my brothers pushing me under the turnstile so I didn’t have to pay. On entering the gates one had that beautiful four to five tiered fountain in front of you, cascading water in steps. On the left was the boys change rooms and on the right the girls. Boys under a certain age (I think it was 16) has to change in the very first change room on the left as you entered the passage, this change room had wire cages for your clothes, with a bench along the wall. The older boys and kids with their parents used the main change room, which had private cubicles in which to change.

I know there were showers, but can't remember where they were, besides as a kid, you had been in the water all day, why would you want to shower?

After changing into your costume, you had to go through the footbath with mauve coloured water (I think it contained condies crystals) I also remember you were not allowed back out the main entrance to get to the pool.

Once outside by the pool, you would claim your spot with your towel on one of the concrete pathways (older boys & girls sat on the grass). This was done so that when you came out of the water one could lie on the wonderful hot cement.

Now with the sixpence I saved by ducking under the turnstile and the sixpence I had as pocket money, I could buy a slab of Wilson's toffee (the one you smacked on a hard surface and broke into a hundred pieces and which pulled your filling out) from the tuck shop, behind the paddling pool.

I remember Pop Patrick was the caretaker/life guard who was a wonderful old man who had a lot of time and patience for kids. He taught me for my basic life saving course. The only rule which Pop had and was quite strict about was that if you went onto the top board (remember the huge diving tower) the only way down was over the edge into the water.

We as kids used to sneak up there to suntan and when Pop wasn't looking sneak down the stairs again, to second top. I had no trouble jumping from there. But on one occasion, unfortunately for me, we were caught up there by Pop and had to jump. I think it must have taken me about a half hour to get the courage to take the step of the edge and jump. I must admit it cured me from top board until I was much older. Can anyone remember the height of the diving board? Felt like a 100 feet!

It was interesting to think back on the fumes from the smelter which used to settle over that area in the afternoon, depending on which way the wind was blowing, and used to burn your lungs and eyes. If that happened today I reckon that the plant would be shut down immediately, there are more than likely some of us out there who suffer respiratory problems which can be directly linked to breathing that smog. (Maybe we have a case for compensation).

Cheers for now.