Pittwater Life February 2018 Issue

ABOVE: Local David Hopkinson
swims laps regularly – Newport is
his pool of choice as it’s ‘always
quiet’; RIGHT: The ever-popular
Bilgola pool at the southern end of
the beach presents a long length.
grew up at Palm Beach, now
lives in Avalon, and runs a gardening
business called Lanes
Gardens.
“I usually swim here or at
the Newport Rock Pool,” he
says. “I have a break from
gardening in the middle of the
day and in summer and winter,
I swim 20 lengths, 1km. I do
it to keep fit, but also, I love
being in the salt water every
day. It’s like a form of meditation.
It relaxes me and I feel
re-energised.”
While he’s talking 54-yearold
Maryanne Spiers dives into
the pool. She is a fitness coach
and personal trainer, who lives
at Bilgola Plateau.
“I love all the ocean pools,
but Bilgola is my favourite. It’s
a good length for laps and has
a lovely aspect. The salt water
is so refreshing. It relaxes
and revitalises you more than
fresh water.”
Maryanne Spiers grew up
ocean swimming at Austinmer
in Wollongong. She was
a member of the Surf Life
Saving Club, when few women
were members. “Our crew at
Austinmer were the second
group of girls who got their
bronze medallion. That was
around 1979.” Then at the age
of 18 she said she became
Australia’s first female professional
lifeguard.
“I had all the qualifications,
but women hadn’t been
Cover Feature
cass out of the pool and back
out to sea, but then it washed
up on the beach. An excavator
couldn’t move the giant mammal,
and it had to be cut up
with chainsaws, and put into
landfill at Lucas Heights.
The surf always breaks
around this pool, and here
you feel all the energy of the
ocean. This morning waves
are breaking over the edge,
and Lindy and I are whirled
around by the water as we
swim our laps.
Bilgola
Tucked in near the rocks at
the southern end of the beach
are the eight-lane 50-metre by
15-metre pool and the 50-metre
by 5-metre wading pool,
which were built in the 1960s.
When we arrive at quarter
past one, 45-year-old Steve
Lane is swimming lengths. He
32 FEBRUARY 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991