General News
29 August, 2025
Whole town garage sale to support pool
The community are invited to take part in the first community-wide garage sale to raise awareness for the Maryborough outdoor pool’s plight.
Friends of Maryborough Outdoor Pool Precinct Inc (FOMOP), a community advocacy group that played an essential role in securing the pool’s funding, invite locals to take part in a community event which promises the pool’s largest crowd in years.
Planned for October 11, free registrations have now opened for locals wanting to take part.
FOMOP chair Duncan Bates said the inaugural event is about building awareness of the pool and getting the community together socially.
“We just wanted to run the event to showcase the swimming pool and what we’re missing out on ... but the primary goal is really to have a social event to get people together at the pool,” he said.
Participating garages will be put together in a guide available for a gold coin donation at the outdoor pool on the day.
Mr Bates said the money raised will go toward the running costs of FOMOP.
“None of the money will go towards the pool, it’s towards the group to promote the pool,” he said.
The community group formed in January to push for progress, and progress they got, helping secure a total of $9 million of funding from state and federal government.
Both Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella have previously praised the group’s contributions.
“I think this is a feather in the cap to everyone, especially the community groups that fought hard, kept it in the forefront, and helped push it forward,” Cr La Vella said in July.
“I totally believe they played a huge role.”
One of the main sponsors for the event, Professionals Maryborough, are supporting the project through advertising and being one of the locations hard-copy registration forms are available.
Sales associate David Graham said they were keen to support an important cause.
“The pool is so iconic and loved by the whole community so when we heard there was an opportunity to get involved, we thought the best way we can contribute is to do what we do best and promote,” he said.
“We promote properties, we promote great causes, advertising is what we do really well.”
Professionals Maryborough director Jacinta Clifford said they’ve been putting up the signage around town and thanked the community for their support.
“Who else better than real estate agents to promote,” she said.
Opened in 1940, the heritage-listed pool has long been a mainstay of the local community, one that Mr Graham remembers fondly.
“My Nan always used to tell me that she was one of the first people through the gates here,” he said.
“Growing up I have a lot of memories coming down here as a little kid and swimming in the pool. Every summer everybody came down here, it was the place to be.”
Closed since 2022 due to being at an ‘end of life’ stage, the pool complex is expected cost over $10 million to reopen.
Mr Graham said the event is a major push to see a community asset reopened.
“We’re not giving up. We’re not going stop talking about it. We’re going to keep rallying until this is done,” he said.
Starting at the outdoor pool at 7.30 am, with breakfast and coffee available, Mr Bates encourages the community to get involved however they can.
“I’m very excited to see the community rally behind us and show their support of the pool and each other,” he said.
Locals can register their garage sale through the poster’s QR code or hard copy at participating businesses such as Maryborough Professionals.