A final tune from Tav, the music man at Manuka Pool

John ‘Tav’ Taverner played his final song at Manuka Pool last Sunday. He went out with a bang and a bit of emotion with Billy Thorpe's version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' on full volume around the 81-year-old swimming pool.

"It's the song I play every so often when I am in the mood," says the music-loving Tav. “When Billy Thorpe passed away in 2007 I played it daily for about two weeks. It was my final song for the pool and the neighbourhood." 

After  22 years managing Canberra's oldest pool, at 4pm on 25 March, Tav closed the doors for the final time. Turning 60 this year, he decided it was time to call it a day, ending his family's 65-year connection with the pool. Tav took over as manager in 1990 from his parents Owen and Lesley, who ran the pool for the preceding 34 years.

On Sunday all the regulars gathered to say a final farewell to Tav and thank him for his years of dedication to their “special pool”. Among the well-wishers were members of the Coneheads, a group of mainly retired former public servants and military men, who swim each morning.

"It's the end of an era today," said 89-year-old Conehead, Merv Knowles, who has been swimming at the pool since he was a child. He was at the official opening on 26 January 1931 and swam with Tav’s father Owen in the late 1930s and early 40s.

Tav with Coneheads, Merv Knowles, 89 (left) and Don Tier, 90 (right)

“The next manager has very big shoes to fill,” said Merv. “Tav had the place ship-shape and running by 6.30 am every morning. He put in long hours and has been fastidious in ensuring it is clean and runs well. He’s brought a lot of good will and fun to this pool."

Rosemary Hollow, who learnt to swim at the 33-metre pool in the late 1950s and spent her adolescence there, said she'll miss Tav's music. "He had the best selection of music from Middle Eastern to Bob Dylan. On Sunday mornings lapping up and down to Johnny Cash is pure bliss."

Over the past 22 years, music has been a big part of the atmosphere of the art deco space with Tav’s diverse range of CDs played over the PA as patrons enjoyed the water. If they needed calming down on a hot afternoon he'd play something soothing. Other times he'd liven things up with the Rolling Stones, The Beatles or another rock and roll band from the 1960s.

At the deep end of Manuka Pool.

“My love of music is long and deep,” said Tav. “Since I bought my first single, ‘I Can't Control Myself’ by The Troggs back in 1960s, I have been passionate about music.”

And when it came to say goodbye, he drew on one of his favourite singers for his final words. "I could stand here all day and say thank you and I love you all dearly," said Tav. "But I always go back to the immortal words of Bob Dylan: 'Thank you friends.'"

The Taverner family: Tav, wife Pearle and daughters' Grace (left) and Sophie (right) with Tav's dog Tula.

Good luck Tav. You'll never be forgotten at Manuka Swimming Pool.  If you click on the links you can hear some of the music he played at the pool.

Meet the music man of Manuka Pool

It's a special place - Manuka Pool - not just because it was the first pool in the nation's capital or that it's art deco in style. It's because of the people connected to it - the people who love and care for this inner-Canberra icon. And the main man who loves and cares for this pool is John Taverner, affectionately known as Tav.

Like his parents before him, Tav is the manager of Manuka Pool. He's not just any manager; he's the heart and soul of this 78-year-old aquatic place. Tav says his pool has a special karma, which he links back to the billabong which flowed through the land on which the pool was built. The local Kooris gathered and bathed at the billabong and Tav believes their spirit lives on today and protects the people at the man-made swimming hole.

And Tav would know. He's spent most of his life there. His parents' Owen and Lesley ran the centre from 1947 to 1999. Growing up his backyard was the pool, and as a little boy was known to ride his tricycle off the diving board into the 30-metre pool. In the garden area near the children's wading pool, Tav has erected a plaque and planted an Arizona pine in honour of his parents' love and dedication in running Manuka Swimming Pool for 50 summers.

These days Tav has put his own style on this 'cool' pool where music is a part of the atmosphere of the place. Years ago when a local boys' school played a lively Cold Chisel number at the opening of their swimming carnival, Tav realised the power music could have to change the mood of the pool.

"The boys went wild, dancing, jumping in the water and throwing bags and hats in," says Tav. "Since then I've been playing music over the PA. If people need calming down on a hot afternoon I'll put something soothing on. Other times I'll change the tune to add some vitality to the place."

With his eclectic taste in music and extensive CD collection, you are bound to hear something new and different at Manuka Pool. The hot summer's afternoon we were there, chilled Mexican music serenaded around the space. As dusk approached, the Cuban sound of the Buena Vista Social Club took over. The next morning lap swimmers stroked to the dulcet tones of Van ''the man'' Morrison.

While music may not have been a feature at Manuka Pool when it was first opened on 26 January 1931, it was certainly a popular place among young people and families, public servants and parliamentarians. Designed by the government's principal architect E H Henderson and built by 'sustenance' or unemployed workers, during its early days the pool was the scene of many romantic beginnings.  Today, locals have a strong affection for the place, especially its regular morning swimmers, "The Coneheads". Like the Aboriginals before them, the ''Coneheads" gather each day at the watery space to bathe, talk and make friends. As 88-year-old ''Conehead" Don says: "When you strike a place as good as this why go anywhere else. It's a hidden treasure!"