Yallourn Swimming Club by Arthur Brogan (circa 1991) and footnote by Kevin Brogan (2015)

The Club was established down on the Latrobe River in 1930. It was located on the road to the Town Water Supply Pump House. The site is still accessible today from the same road which starts opposite Yallourn W Power Station, however it has changed a lot since the early swimming days.
In the early days swimmers had to walk or ride bikes from the town down an old bike track towards the Power Station, turn off before reaching the West Camp and then on past Horrie Devine’s House/ Carrier Business and down the Pump House road. The river was much wider then and the pool area was fenced off. The area had a sandy bottom and beach as well as a pontoon which was anchored further up the river for advanced swimmers. A diving board was located across the river on a rock cliff.

The 25 yard “Herald” certificate was obtained by swimming out to the pontoon. Many candidates were not able to swim back after completing their 25 yard test, and so were returned to shore by Harry Nairn who carried them on his back. The Club was also active in Life Saving Awards and to a lesser degree in competition swimming. Top International swimmers and divers were also brought to the town by the Club to give diving and swimming displays at the old river pool.

Some of the early members of the club executive were Ben Drummond, Harry Nairn, Hugh Graham, Bill Spicer and Nick Bolger, all of whom remained active in the club for most of their working life and many hundreds of children to swim. Hugh Graham was still active with the club teaching Life Saving well into the 1970’s.

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