General News
5 April, 2025
Pool entry springboard
By CHRIS EARL SEASON ticket sales at Loddon pools have jumped up to 280 per cent with the introduction of half price tickets after a sponsorship deal by Inglewood and Districts Community Bank. And the $15,000 boost from the bank to support Loddon...
By CHRIS EARL
SEASON ticket sales at Loddon pools have jumped up to 280 per cent with the introduction of half price tickets after a sponsorship deal by Inglewood and Districts Community Bank.
And the $15,000 boost from the bank to support Loddon Shire pools in Inglewood, Wedderburn and Mitiamo could be extended to next season.
Bank director Stewart Luckman said: “This has been one of the best projects we have been part of and one that has certainly been positively received.
“One of our motivations was to help local families and local people with cost of living ... things are tough at the moment,” he said.
“The figures show how well received the bank’s support for the swimming pools was - season pass sales at Wedderburn jumped 281 per cent to 164, Inglewood was up 163 per cent to 108. At Mitiamo there was a rise of almost 57 per cent.”
Mr Luckman said casual ticket entry increases of more than 10 per cent were also recorded at Wedderburn and Inglewood.
“We have even had reports that tourists staying in Bridgewater over the summer breaks, joined up for season passes, meaning families have more things to do while in the district,” he said.
The bank’s sponsorship, locked in days before last November’s season opening, also covered free pool entry for the first day of the season and closing day.
And new basketball backboards were installed at Inglewood and Wedderburn pools.
According to Mr Luckman, the season pass sponsorship had made a difference to pool use this season.
“We’re making a difference. We are in great communities doing great things and we all love where we live. Helping people during tough times to continue using the pools, and more often than previously in some cases, is a real positive,” he said.
Members of the bank board were meeting this week to review involvement in the project.
Loddon’s pool season runs from November to the March long weekend. Management of the pools is contracted out by council.