Community
14 May, 2026
Generous donation keeps pool dreams afloat
THE Terang Community Op Shop has provided a $5000 lifeline to the community group desperately trying to reopen the doors to the Rodney Grove Aquatic Centre.
The donation was made on Tuesday morning to support Friends of Rodney Grove Pool and Gym (FORG), a small group of volunteers raising funds in the hopes of keeping the Cobden-based pool running.
The pool, which was the only indoor heated public pool between Colac and Warrnambool, was closed in December 2025 due to significant year-on-year financial costs on operator Cobdenhealth.
In response to the closure, FORG was launched in hopes of raising funds to reopen the doors.
FORG chair Lesley Brown said members were elated with the support from the Terang Community Op Shop.
“We’re very grateful and appreciative of their support for us,” she said.
“This helps us want to keep going.
“One of our members wrote a letter to the Terang Community Op Shop because they’re supportive of the community, and we had a lot of people from Terang – including Cooinda clients – coming over to use the pool when it was open.
“We thought they might be able to help us, and we’re grateful they have.”
The community has thrown its support behind FORG through $25,000 in donations.
“It feels good to have had so much support,” Mrs Brown said.
“It seems the more support we get, the more the community want to give.
“There’s a really big need for the pool to be opened again, and we’re working hard to do that.”
Mrs Brown said the pool had been vital for people across the district as a form of leisure, exercise, treatment and recovery.
“It was important on every level,” she said.
“It helps for rehabilitation and people dealing with injury to come and do non-weight bearing exercises.
“People felt better, and mentally it provided a chance to meet others while exercising.”
The members behind FORG have a challenging task ahead of them as they attempt to raise $250,000 for critical maintenance, which will then require ongoing costs.
“The $250,000 will allow for maintenance work on the pool area, to get all the upgrade works done,” Mrs Brown said.
“Then we’re looking at another $115,000 we would need each year to continue keeping the pool open.”
Donations can be made online for anyone wanting to support the efforts through the button found below.
“Please support the pool because it supports our local community,” Mrs Brown said.