Hamilton Rotary Clubs Celebrate Opening of Hydrotherapy Pool

The Hamilton East Rotary Club recently hosted a meeting of all Hamilton Clubs to celebrate the opening of the hydrotherapy pool (pictured) at Hamilton’s “Waterworld” on July 22^nd 2011. Rotary was a major driver and fundraiser behind the development of the hydrotherapy pool, with Hamilton City Council the major financial contributor. The programme originated in1983 when John Thorne the then President of the Hamilton East Rotary Club promoted the project. Initially the club raised $75,000 which was not enough to build the pool, but was used to provide better facilities at “Waterworld”.

In 2006 all of the Rotary clubs within Hamilton picked up the project, under Ron Hancock, Rotary Area 1 Governor, who joined the Hydrotherapy Pool Trust and set up the Rotary Hydrotherapy Pool committee. The latest total contribution to the pool from Rotary was $84,200, with most of this money raised through the Rotary Club of Waikato Sunrise who arranged for many volunteers to serve at the stalls at the Hamilton V8 racing events.

A number of people who were involved in the fundraising or have benefited from the pool spoke at the evening meeting.

Pictured are (from left to right):

Front row

John Thorne, President of Hamilton East Rotary 1983/84

Patricia Hancock, Member of Hamilton Rotary Club, Rotary Hydrotherapy Pool committee and the Hydrotherapy Pool Trust

Pennie Evans, Hydrotherapy Pool Trust and representing hydrotherapy pool users

Margaret Holroyd, Hydrotherapy Pool Trust and representing hydrotherapy pool users

Back row

Clive Kingsley-Smith, Chairman of the Rotary Hydrotherapy Pool Committee

Ron Lane

, former Hamilton East Rotary member and pool fundraiser

David Peart, chair of the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust

Roger Fitzgerald, Hamilton Rotary Club and immediate past Area 1 Governor. Member of the Hydrotherapy Pool Trust and the Rotary Hydrotherapy Pool committee.