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| STORIES FROM OUR PEOPLE | 
| THE HAMILTON HYDROTHERAPY POOL CHARITABLE TRUST
The
'Hamilton Arthritics Support Group' was formed 24 years ago, by a
Doctor Rose, at Waikato Hospital and consisted of a group of arthritis
sufferers. The group was named "Contact" and they met in a room at
Waikato Hospital. The group eventually became bigger and when Dr. Rose
moved from the hospital, alternative accommodation had to be found.
People with other disabilities, soon began to join until it became a
forum for people with many ailments and some who just enjoyed the
'social' atmosphere.
It was known then that exercise in
warm water had therapeutic qualities and is beneficial for ailments of
all kinds. The hospital pool could not be used by persons who were not
undergoing treatment as in-patients or out-patients therefore about 19
years ago a search was made for a suitable pool.
A heated pool
was found at Fountain City Motel and the owners agreed that the group
could use it. The pool was less than perfect because it was, and still
is, difficult for the less able bodied to negotiate the steps into the
pool; making access difficult . There are no rails and an old wooden
chair serves as a support when entering or exiting.
This
and the other inadequacies drove Christine East and Margaret Holroyd to
take action. In 2004 they decided to approach the Council to suggest
the building of a public hydrotherapy pool and during that year they
presented an excellent submission regarding this to Council. The
submission got wide council support and it was agreed to set up a
charitable trust to raise the community’s contribution towards
the cost of constructing a public Hydrotherapy Pool.
The
Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust was incorporated in July
2006, for the sole purpose of raising capital funding to contribute
towards the building of a public Hydrotherapy Pool. A unique
partnership was formed with the Hamilton City Council whereby the Trust
would raise the community’s funding contribution, carry out
consultation with the user groups and gain feedback from the
stakeholders. Working together in this way has streamlined the
fundraising and the Trust firmly believes it has added significantly to
the outcome and success of the project. When the Hydrotherapy Pool is
completed the Council will facilitate the operation, staffing, and
upkeep of the facility; and no further fund raising will be required to
operate the pool.
In order for the Trust to gain momentum LIFE
Unlimited, a key stakeholder fully sponsored the employment of a Trust
Administrator. Ailsa Rasmussen was employed in this position in March
2007.
The Members of the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust are:
David Peart (Chair)
Laurie Pilling
Adri Isbister (CEO LIFE Unlimited)
Christine East
Bruce Sheridan
Raewyn Steel
Ron Hancock (Rotary Representative)
Dr Alison Glover
John Herbert (Treasurer)
The late Bob Stocks was a member of the inaugural Trust.
The
Board of the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust has worked
together to achieve this fantastic outcome for the community and we are
all looking forward to opening day when everyone will get to use this
wonderful new facility for the city.
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