THE community has galvanised this week against Ballarat City Council's decision to close the Black Hill pool.
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In shades of the debate which surrounded the closure of nearby Brown Hill pool about a decade ago, the council late this week gave some indications that the community campaign against the decision is having an impact and that the pool has the potential to operate in community hands.
What is happening to Ballarat's aquatic facilities is generational evolution. From small and geographically-located outdoor pools to a central hub with playspace spokes.
Assessing community engagement with outdoor pools is much more complicated than purely user numbers or memberships. Decision making would be much simpler if all that was under consideration was pure bottom line numbers.
Whether the council and the soon-to-be-elected new mayor has the will to work with the community which it has affronted by its initial decision to get a result will be intriguing because the task is far from simple just ask those involved in the Brown Hill pool decision.
Quick action needed in avoid ice crisis
INTERESTING how Ballarat-based Western Victorian MP Simon Ramsay, who chaired the state government Law Reform, Drugs and Crime Prevention Joint Parliamentary Committee investigating the use and impacts of methamphetamine, particularly "ice", described the issue this week: "The problem is not a pandemic, an epidemic, or a crisis in reality it affects less than two per cent of Australia's population. Nevertheless, it is an increasing social and health problem that has significant harm to users and to the community at large. We all bear the burden of this drug."
We agree wholeheartedly with Mr Ramsay, however we also urge the current, and future, state government to act quickly.
Such is the impact the abuse of ice is having on communities like Ballarat everyday, we dare not think what a crisis or epidemic might look like.
Using modern media for a good cause
HOW much did you know about motor neurone disease three months ago?
This week I was seconded to take part in the social media phenomenon, the ice-bucket challenge, raising awareness and cash for MND.
It is a great cause and, despite the inevitable criticism about the motives of some who have taken on the challenge, shows the endless power of modern devices and media in this scenario mainly for the purposes of good rather than evil.
Apple will next week launch its latest iPhone which will undoubtedly provide users with a range of new and more efficient ways to communicate. Where does it end? No-one knows.
For this time anyway we can recognise that the new digital age isn't all bad news when you consider how more enlightened we are as a world about MND.
Reach out to your dad, this Father's Day
THE Courier this week published an online photo slide show celebrating Ballarat's amazing dads in preparation for Father's Day.
There were many daughters and wives sending in pictures of their menfolk but very few sons celebrating dads.
The slide show was indeed amazing for what it says about how men are expected to act and behave in Australian society.
Tomorrow is a great day for all the guys out there to break the mould tell dad just how much he means.
andrew.eales@fairfaxmedia.com.au