Swimming

A pool in real estate terms may cost $20,000 to install, or more, with all the bells and whistles.

But in winter it’s a selling liability.

In summer, especially on 30 degree plus days, its worth thousands.

The first Brisbane heated pool, both indoor and outdoor, was opposite the Aspley Hypermarket on Albany Creek Road where the 7 to 11 service station now trades.

Built by Bert and Myee Foster, the first to teach babies and toddlers to swim.

Bert, an ex-champion surfer and Myee, a former coach of the Sydney/Manly swimming club, married during the war and made the wise move to Aspley. Initially with classes in the back yard, the pool became a centre point of swimming club activity.

In the 70’s, the fog horn voice of Bert would bellow the running stragglers into the pool after the 2km run for fitness punters.

In those days, Centenary Pool (Gregory Terrace) was virtually “it”.

Pine Shire had no public pools till the late 70’s.

But Tom Simpson, the local headmaster in the 50’s and 60’s, didn’t let lack of a pool stop his progress. In summer, we traipsed down to Leitch’s Crossing for lessons in the brown, murky swimming hole.

With lantana bushes as change rooms, girls and boys alike enjoyed the challenge of the rope swing, off the she oak, over the swimming hole. A far cry from the sanitized pool surroundings of 2004.
I don’t suppose swinging off a 5 metre rope, off a slippery mud bank sounds exceptional against today’s Wet and Wild and Dreamworld attractions.

Give me the choice of Leitch’s Crossing or your back yard pool and I’ll go for the year round heated acceptance of Foster’s Aspley Pool.

In the absence of Foster’s pool, I recommend the Albany Creek Leisure Centre catering from toddlers to great grandparents. Go take a ‘no obligation’ look (phone 3264 9900) and tell them Peter sent you.

Before you install that pool at home, get a before and after value from Matt Campbell – Phone 0417 008 406.

If you have a local organization for which you wish publicity, phone Peter Campbell on 0418 774 663. Peter Campbell Realty are about community, not just bricks and mortar.

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