Central Land Council

KINTORE
the pool is open...

It was one of the most eagerly anticipated pool parties ever.

Children strained at the fence while adults presented speeches for what seemed an eternity in child years.

Sweat dripped down worn faces as a baking sun peaked in the sky. Small children were chased back by adults bearing serious faces after the youngsters had attempted to slip by dignitaries and through a tall wire gate with the sole ambition of diving into the sparkling waters of Kintore’s brand new pool.

Then, just as the speeches seemed to be coming to an end, senior women of the community spent what seemed to be another child’s lifetime outlining the rules they’d have to obey if they were going to dip even just a little toe in the pool.

But after all was said and a little more on top of that, children from Kintore, Kirrikurra and other communities far and wide burst through that gate they’d been prevented from crossing earlier and like a river making its way to the sea raced towards the pool - only to be diverted into the showers for a quick clean-up.

After that swift dip though, dozens of children finally felt the cooling waters of Kintore’s pool upon their skin and the biggest smiles the southern hemisphere has seen revealed good things do come to those who wait.

The Kintore community, 500 kilometres west of Alice Springs near the Western Australia border, raised the bulk of the funds to build the pool.

An Art Gallery of New South Wales auction of artworks in November 2005 raised more than $900,000 for the project.

Papunya Tula artists had donated the works for the auction as they had done in 2000 when a similar art sale raised more than $1 million to establish a remote haemodialysis unit in Kintore.

That unit was created to treat about 20 patients but is now servicing more than 40.

The community’s “can-do” attitude has attracted praise from all over the country, but there’s no more appreciation than that from the kids who now have a pool to swim in over the dry hot summers of the western desert.

Apart from the fun element, having access to a pool has been found to improve the health standards of children, contributing to reductions in ear and skin infections.

Children are required to have a shower before swimming in the pool and if they don’t go to school then they’re not allowed to swim in the pool.

It’s also created job opportunities such as lifesaver positions.