SIX years ago, Avenel Pool was broken.

Today, it is fixed – Strathbogie Shire Council invested heavily in repairs and upgrades to ageing infrastructure.

Six years ago, we had one lifeguard, but today there are 12 and a venue manager.

Six years ago, we opened three mornings per week (7am to 9am) for aqua exercise sessions.

At the recent Friends of the Avenel Pool meeting, I was told that this season we've been allocated zero sessions from 7am to 9am, and just one token session per week from 9.30am to 11.30am.

So, when and where will swimmers swim?

From 12pm-2pm and burn? ("Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun,” as Noel Coward says.)

Crowded into one lane from 6pm-7pm with 60 other patrons trying to keep cool?

Drive to Seymour, past an inviting but closed pool within walking/cycling distance from home?

I understand "tight budgetary restraints", so here's a few options:

1. Open at 1pm or 2pm instead of 12pm.

2. Increase the minimum opening temperature from 22 degrees to 25 degrees.

3. Reconsider guidelines and permit a fully qualified Level 2 first aider, who is also trained for spinals and drownings, to work with a senior lifeguard on early mornings only (ambos and hospitals being within 20 minutes.)

We've been asked to "activate" our pools, here's a novel idea: open swimming pools for those who want/need/love to actually swim.

Entertain us with pool parties and films; improve us with social and exercise groups: teach water safety, but please, let us swim.

Our creek is totally degraded at Avenel, as a result of megalitre dams built on tributaries upstream along the Tarcombe Valley: please don't reduce our access to a cool place any further.

Glenys Pentland, Avenel, former Avenel Pool lifeguard/duty manager

Clarifying my letter submissions

NO, Sandra Morris.

It wasn't decided for me to give up writing to the Gazette, it was entirely my own idea.

My health hasn't been good lately, and my concentration let me down quite a bit.

So, I have decided to write to the Gazette every now and then.

I will stick to the truth, and as long as I am accepted, I will always tell the truth.

I will try to make letters as interesting to the readers as I possibly can, and leave the politics of other countries alone.

Ted More, Euroa

V/Line and farmers fail in their ways

I: Inconvenience

V/Line cannot rightly explain

why Euroa is doomed to remain

a station that's loo-less

(can they be that clueless?):

not all like to "go" on the train.

II: Opportunity

It really is rather a wheeze

that people would leave their car keys

still in the ignition

without recognition

that robbers will such a chance seize.

Craig Penny, Terip Terip