The club donated a large inflatable pool toy yesterday which will be put to use for the first time this Friday, for people young and old to enjoy.
Club community services director Severin Duhring said the group raised money for the inflatable through community barbecues and raffles.
‘‘The idea is to make it more friendly for children to be at the Mooroopna pool rather than having to go across to Shepparton to have some entertainment and fun,’’ he said.
‘‘We want to make sure the youth have something to do to try to keep them out of trouble in the town.
‘‘Instead of doing damage, they can have lots of fun.’’
With patronage at the Mooroopna pool having dwindled in past years and fears the pool could close in the future, Mr Duhring said the club wanted to work with Greater Shepparton City Council to ensure the facility remained in the town.
‘‘It was looking like the pool could even close if it kept going in that direction — so we’re trying to make sure Mooroopna doesn’t lose its pool by doing things that are fun and brings the families and the kids here,’’ he said.
The club is currently working on a number of projects to engage with local youth, including the Yalka Yaka project which works in conjunction with Rumbalara.
Yalka Yaka involves a community barbecue and pool night at the Mooroopna pool every second Friday, with anyone welcome to come along and enjoy the free sausage sizzle.
The club is also working to have some murals painted along the brick walls at the pool, with two Aboriginal artists employed to work alongside local children to add some colour to the exterior buildings.
‘‘We’re looking for assistance and funding to brighten the whole area up, inside and out, on the brickwork,’’ Mr Duhring said.
‘‘We believe that everyone getting together is the best way of solving the problems with the youth we have here ... the most important thing is that the kids all get along really well, especially with the elders.’’
The inflatable pool toy will be at the Mooroopna pool this Friday from 5pm to 7pm. The Kiwanis Club of Mooroopna members will also be there from 5.30pm to 8pm, running a barbecue for the Yalka Yaka program. The program will run this Friday, March 1, and Friday, March 15.
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