Tully was moving along
with pride. Sewerage works were on the agenda too! The town was growing up!
At this time, the
Tully water supply only served a population of 2,976, with only 942 tenements connected to the service. The average consumption
per head of population was 169 gallons or 770 litres per day using 14,830,580 gallons (67,421,151 litres) at an average rate
of 503,000 gallons (2,286,683 litres) per day.
This was also the
start of the conservation movement to save the Barrier Reef, firstly, and saw scientists combing the rainforest in search
of some exotic plant seeking a cure for the dreaded big C, cancer, and heart disease - the major killers. Research scientists
trekked from Cardwell Range to the Daintree River. They had received this assignment at the Federal level and included senior
technical officers and zoologists who were to save plants and trees that would be of scientific interest.
Two tenders, slightly
below estimate. covering major works on the swimming pool project were accepted in 1966.. The major contract went to local
contractor, Mr IP Bosnisch, valued at $39,558.35. His tender covered the construction of the Olympic size pool, children’s
pool, wading pool, pump house, wet well and entrance pavilion.
The second contract
let went to WG Utting Sales Company for $13,283 to supply the water purification plant. The tender of $105,721 submitted by
a Cairns firm was rejected. Six tenderers ranging downwards from $15,100 were received for the supply of this equipment.
Work on the construction
of the main pool and other amenities commenced in the 1966/1967 financial year. But the contrator
had to be granted an extension of three months to complete the project.
The original
date set for completion of the job was 20th March 1967, but this was extended to 20th June. Heavy rains in March and April
threw overboard any hopes of finishing construction by the end of May. Mr Bosnich was confident that construction would be
completed by the extension date provided no further interruptions came from wet weather. Council then decided to landscape
the grounds before officially opening it to the public.
The pool
was nearing completion and the Council became committed to another Swimming Pool for Cardwell.
Tilers
finally lined the walls of the main pool after rain forced them to quit for a week. Bricklayers worked on the dressing sheds
and the entrance building and other men laid the final sections of spillway at the deep end of the main pool.
All the
remaining work was of a finishing nature, adding final touches to this and that and then excavating and filling certain sections
of the site. Concrete paths leading from the entrance and dressing sheds to the main pool, the small pool and a shallow wading
pool were built.
The position
of Caretaker was advertised to take up duties early in September 1967 with the lease or rental rights of the Kiosk. A husband
and wife combination was considered to be an ideal arrangement in the functioning of the pool and Kiosk while also the Caretaker
was given a guarantee of full employment during the off season.
The Lease
period was for five years and Tenders had to possess Life Saving Qualifications for surf or still-water or for First Aid.
The leasee of the baths was finally given to Mr John Newbury.
Then a
swimming club was to be formed. A public meeting for this purpose was convened by the Shire Clerk, Mr TH Farr. along with
another man who was keen to get club activities under way, Mr Eddie Kratzmann. During Army service Mr Kratzmann won recognzed
as a competitive swimmer in inter-services competition and will also be remembered as a surf lifesaving champion of yesteryear.
Apart from
organising competitive swimming and inter-town competitions the swimming club would arrange regular coaching classes and conduct
learn-to-swim campaigns. And these began immediately, for a fortnight school children under the supervision of teachers began
using the pool, which was not yet open to the general public until after the official opening.
But there
was little interest In the founding of Swim Club at a poorly attended public meeting. So undeterred, a steering committee
of six was formed and assigned the task of drafting a constitution for a swimming club at Tully. They were confident that
the pool opening would spark off interest in the club.
The committee comprised Mrs J Mitchell, Miss J
White, Messrs Tom Farr, Doug Black and Jamie White who obtained forms and handbooks from the Queensland Amateur Swimming Association,
a draft a constitution and followed up on affiliations with State and Northern Swimming Associations. Clubs at Innisfail and
Ingham were contacted and the draft constitution prepared before the committee met again. 
