Swimming pool stories: April 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Immersed in the aquatic culture of Paris

De la Butte aux Cailles Pool in the 13th arrondissement.

Last Saturday I had an article on six pools in Paris in the travel section of The Weekend Australian. The story discusses the French capital's distinctive aquatic culture which includes compulsory wearing of caps or bonnets de bain even at the Roger Le Gall Pool in the 12th arrondissement where the Naturist Association of Paris offers nude swimming two nights a week.

Three pools on the Left Bank and three on the Right Bank are featured including Pontoise Pool where French actor Juliette Binoche swam in Three Colours Blue.

Photo from www.threemenonablog.blogspot.com

I also highlight the redeveloped Piscine Molitor featured in The Life of Pi due to reopen this year. The pool was the setting for the launch of the bikini in 1946. For my complete story click on Bathing Beauties and here for more information on Paris' 38 public pools. Note: for some reason the link to Bathing Beauties isn't working; will see what I can do over the weekend.

Photo from www.fiftytwoshowroom.com/blog

News

Into the deep at Sydney's ocean pools

My story in the travel section of The Weekend Australian on Bondi Icebergs, Bronte Baths and Bogey Hole, McIver's Ladies Baths, Coogee, Wylie's Baths, Coogee and Mahon Pool at Maroubra. Take a dip on the wildside!

Being a bathing beauty in Paris

My story on swimming at six piscines in Paris where hygiene is a big focus including removing your shoes before entering change rooms, pre-swim showering and foot washing.

A shorter future for Petersham Pool

Marrickville Council had decided to reduce the length of the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre at Petersham from 33-metres to 25-metres to "bring it in line with FINA and short-course standards". At the same time the six-lane pool will be widened by 2 lanes. While some locals are pleased there will continue to be a pool in Petersham Park, the Save Petersham Pool Facebook group are not happy about the reduction in length.

Manuka Pool manager says goodbye
After 22 years managing iconic Manuka Pool, John 'Tav' Taverner, a great character of Canberra, will be hanging up his goggles at the end of March and moving to Moruya.

Swimming cossie exhibition at Manly
Head down to the Manly Art Gallery & Museum today (12 Sept) and tomorrow (13 Sept) for On the Beach - an exhibition of swimwear from the neck-to-knee era to today.

New aquatic centre for Alice
A new aquatic and leisure centre opened in Alice Springs last Sunday, 17 April 2011. A reviewer writing at Alice Online said the opening of the dazzling $20 million waterplay palace was a reminder that there's always been more to kwatye (Eastern Arrente word for water) than the mere sustenance of life.

Pools of the past
Australia's heritage pools are full of history, character, artistry and atmosphere. They are living illustrations of the changing fashions of architecture and design. Not all have survived the test of time, but where they have they are much-loved and treasured. Read about North Sydney Pool, Tobruk Memorial Baths, Townsville, Edithburgh Tidal Pool in South Australia and many more.

Heritage-listing for McIver's
On International Women's Day, the NSW Heritage Council recommneded that the women's-only McIver's Baths in Sydney's Coogee be incuded on the state's heritage register. This morning, ABC 702 presenter Deb Cameron interviewed 85-year-old Nancy Bennett, who has been swimming at the ocean pool since she was three.

An Australian institution
Author James Bradley writes about the Australian summer institution - the beach holiday.

Pools at Leichhardt Library
A selection of photos from Jenny Rix's 2008 National Trust exhibition, Pools - No Diving are on show at Leichhardt Library in The Forum in Sydney's inner west. Lovely photos by the Annandale photographer, mainly of Sydney's sea baths and tidal pools.

Controversy at Coogee
At what point does a man undergoing a sex change become a woman? This was the question that got a few cossies in a knot at the McIver Ladies Baths in Coogee on a recent Sunday, when a man claiming he was having hormone therapy came to use the ocean pool.

Can swimming make you smarter?
A group of Queensland researchers is investigating whether swimming makes children smarter.The landmark study will monitor thousands of children who learn how to swim early and whether that translates into higher scores in the classroom. High-profile swimming coach Laurie Lawrence approached the university to start the study.