Yellow Pool hoist brings buoyancy to individuals in the Goondiwindi community

• A new fully automated hoist has been installed at the Goondiwindi Council Memorial Pool to assist individuals with disabilities, the elderly who enjoy swimming and individuals with mobility issues
• Goondiwindi Regional Council and the Goondiwindi Community Bookshop’s collaboration has made this inclusive project possible
• The bright yellow hoist has been installed and is ready for use

Goondiwindi Regional Council is pleased to announce a significant improvement in the accessibility of the Goondiwindi Council Memorial Pool. The installation of a state-of-the-art pool hoist will benefit individuals with disabilities, the elderly who enjoy swimming and individuals with mobility issues, such as those recovering from sports injuries or surgical procedures.

The bright yellow hoist is designed to accommodate up to 200 kilograms and offers the flexibility of using a sling or a wheelchair to safely and comfortably lower individuals into the water, significantly reducing the need for manual lifting and ensuring a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.

The hoist, located in the learn-to-swim heated pool, is a fully automated power rotation structure, which means the individual getting into the water can operate the hoist themselves.

Goondiwindi Regional Council prepared the foundation for the structure with a cement pad, while the Goondiwindi Community Bookshop, which has been serving the community since 2021, provided funding assistance through their Books that Give initiative, donating $15,000 towards the hoist.

Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor, the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM, said the addition of the pool hoist is a significant step towards making our community facilities more inclusive and welcoming to all individuals.

"Many individuals with disabilities and the elderly enjoy water activities as a way to relax or for light exercise and this apparatus is easy to use," Cr Springborg said.

"Council would like to thank the Goondiwindi Community Bookshop auspiced by the Goondiwindi Rotary Club, for their generous donation through the Books that Give funding initiative for assisting Council with this valuable addition to the swimming pool," Cr Springborg said.

The Goondiwindi Community Bookshop coordinator, Marianne Carter, said we saw a need for health-related equipment for individuals with various disabilities to enjoy the swimming pool, and as a result of community support of the Bookshop, we were in a position to give back to the community.

"Through the Books that Give funding assistance initiative we donated $15,000 towards the hoist; this is a pleasing result and would not be possible without the dedicated team of volunteers who support the day to day running of the bookshop," Mrs Carter said.

Councillor Susie Kelly, who holds the portfolio for Rural Services and Community Facilities, said the Goondiwindi Community Bookshop is a wonderful example of a local group working to benefit our community.

"The Bookshop collaborated with Council, and were immediately onboard with the idea, recognising that the hoist would greatly enhance the pool's accessibility for our entire community," Cr Kelly said. "Additionally, our fifty-metre pool already has a ramp for those who require it, and we also have a wheelchair available for individuals who need assistance to enter the pool."

The new hoist is assembled and ready to use.