Community
20 May, 2026
Support for pool fundraising
EVER since the closure of the Rodney Grove Aquatic Centre, several members of the community have been struggling with the loss.
They either used the pool for rehabilitation purposes, physiotherapy or simply for rest and relaxation.
The pool was a vital asset to not just the Cobden community, but the whole of the Corangamite Shire as it was the only heated pool of its kind available between Warrnambool and Colac.
In order for the pool to reopen, costs of upwards of $200,000 in maintenance are required, as well as over $100,000 a year in ongoing running costs.
While the pool was previously operated at a loss by Cobdenhealth, under the new Aged Care Act, the health service can no longer financially support the running of the pool while also supplying general practice and aged care services to the Cobden community.
Since its closure, a committee known as the Friends of Rodney Grove Pool and Gym (FORG) was formed with the intention of fundraising to reopen the pool to the community and keep it running to the benefit of all in Corangamite Shire and beyond.
One such member of the committee, Sue Delwig, said she had been devastated by the loss of the pool because it was part of her rehabilitation after a work fall.
“I hurt my back and broke my ribs and I’ve got a lasting back injury, upper and lower back, and I’ve been using the pool for rehab,” she said.
“I’ve had a knee replacement so using the pool was good because it was low impact and what I can do in the pool I can’t do on land.
“It’s amazing that you can actually work harder and it’s no strain on your body.
“I was starting to come down off my pain meds, and I’ve gone back up.
“I’ve had to go get an on-land physio program and start from scratch with exercises that are going to help without aggravating my injuries.”
As a member of the FORG committee, Mrs Delwig has been working with the other committee members to help fundraise and look at funding options to reopen the heated pool.
“I’ve done some t-shirts and I’m going to try and get out and about a bit more to try and sell them,” she said.
“We’re just trying to come up with ideas that are going to help, such as young mums that are bringing kids to the swimming lessons, to the oldies that are using the pool.
“There are a wide range of ages to try and cater for.
“It’s a big loss – it’s been hard on parents that were bringing their kids for swimming lessons and they’ve had to try and find somewhere else.
“People like me who have had a knee replacement, hydrotherapy is the best thing – well they’ve got to try and find where they can go and be able to still do their exercises.”
While many people used the pool for rehabilitation and physiotherapy, Mrs Delwig said she wanted to reiterate the pool was for everyone, not just for those who had a special referral.
“People have just got to realise that you don’t have to be injured or have an illness or be old to use the pool – anybody can use the pool,” she said.
“I think that was one of the biggest myths – people thought that you had to be going there under a physio or you had to have a referral, people have got to realise that anybody can use it.
“It’s so beneficial because it’s so warm, which suits from babies to oldies.
“When I would go, before they started cutting the hours, I was going three days a week, and I would do all my exercises in the pool, then I’d jump in the spa for about 10 or 15 minutes and it warmed me all the way through.
“It was great, the pain in my back was bearable because it was so warm.”
Mrs Delwig said any amount put towards the fundraiser would help.
“We’re not looking for huge amounts with fundraising, if you’ve only got $5 that’s fine – every little bit helps,” she said.
“What we really need is when we get it open, we really need to have the community’s support.
“It’s not just Cobden, it’s the whole shire, because we’d have people coming up from Timboon, Lismore and Skipton.
“In Cobden and Camperdown, coffee shops have lost out because the amount of people that would come over, especially with Carole Manifold’s classes, they’d do water aerobics, and then they’d either go to the bakery in Cobden or to Camperdown and have lunch.
“People from out of town would go to the pool and then do their groceries and errands in town.”
The best way to donate is by selecting the button below – Mrs Delwig said if the fundraiser fell through, anyone who donated would get their money back.
“I’m also selling t-shirts, so if you have an enquiry about a t-shirt, please email me at sdelwig@gmail.com,” she said.
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