School crowdfunds to rescue old pool

WEAR AND TEAR: Dalefield School's 130-year-old pool needs $26,000 worth of repairs, for which the school is fundraising via Givealittle.

A rural Carterton school and a charitable trust whose building projects have raised thousands for Wairarapa have joined forces to help save a 130-year-old pool.

Dalefield School is fundraising to repair its onsite pool -- estimated to cost more than $25,000.

The pool will need to be re-lined with fibreglass to prevent persistent leaks, which the small school has spent several thousand dollars trying to fill.

School administrator Lisa Fitness said she has set up a Givealittle page to help raise the bulk of the money, and has also enlisted to help of the Wellington-based Dugdale Charitable Trust, known for supporting charitable organisations by building and selling new homes in the Wellington region.

Trust founders Chris and Warwick Dugdale, who have so far raised money for Hospice Wairarapa, the Wairarapa Cancer Society, the Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club and the region's volunteer fire brigades, have pledged funds from their latest building project for the pool upgrade.

"They do some wonderful work, so it's great to have them on board with us," Ms Fitness said.

"It's got to the point where we can't maintain the pool on our own -- so, if we can't raise the money, we're going to have to close it, and that would be such a shame."

Ms Fitness said the pool has been on the Dalefield School site since the school opened in 1885.

Despite its age and "a bit of wear and tear", the pool has been fairly low maintenance -- until recently, when cracks and holes forming in the concrete, causing leaks.

The cost of filling the cracks was becoming untenable for the school, Ms Fitness said.

"It set us back about $700 last year -- it's just wasting money.

"Schools struggle enough as it is."

The school has been quoted around $26,000 from Mayfair Pools in Carterton for the fibreglass coating, which Ms Fitness hopes can be raised by September, for work to be completed by the end of term 4.

As well as the Givealittle page and support from the Dugdales, the school is organising an auction, with prizes donated from local businesses, and a quiz night.

"We need to do this properly, so we can keep the costs down in the future."

Ms Fitness said it was vital the pool stay open, as all pupils learn to swim on site.

Though swimming is part of the curriculum for primary schools, the Ministry of Education does not fund school pool maintenance.

"It's too far for a lot of our kids to travel into Carterton for swimming lessons -- so they're dependent on our pool," Ms Fitness said.

"I have seen children come here and not wanting to go near the water and now are very confident swimmers.

"And the kids love it -- when it's hot out, they're swimming twice a day."

Ms Fitness said the pool would hopefully be re-open to the public once repairs were complete.

To support Dalefield School, go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/dalefieldschoolsaveourpool.