Our History

It was on March 18, 1995 that the Pambula Community Swimming pool was officially opened after a long and arduous fundraising and building program undertaken by enthusiastic and dedicated members of the local community. This tradition continues by developing the Pambula Community Swimming pool into the Bega Valley Shire’s first and only 12 month indoor heated aquatic centre, the Sapphire Aquatic Centre, officially opened on October 16th 2010.

The Rotary Club of Pambula Inc. spearheaded a community drive since 2005 to provide the Bega Valley Shire region with a twelve-month indoor heated swimming facility. In the year 2000 an independent consultant, Stephen Johansson of the Facility Design Group, was contracted by the Bega Valley Shire to assess the best option of the shire’s 6 pools to be developed into an indoor aquatic centre operating all of the year.

The Pambula Community Swimming Pool was the one chosen as having the best potential to service the whole of the shire with these important facilities. Unfortunately, the report was sitting on the shelf in the shire’s Bega office for some years because of the shire’s severe financial constraints. The Rotary Club accepted the challenge of raising the money for the pool development after successfully completing the $250,000 Skateboard Park at the Pambula Beach Sporting Complex in 2005.

Today we have seen the dream become a reality. The inspiration and key to the successful fundraising comes from the members of the Rotary Club of Pambula. A strong management team, the Pambula Aquatic Centre Inc. (PACI), was recruited from the local community to work in partnership with Rotary to guide the project through the design and development phase. The Bega Valley Shire Council and local communities supported the project and now the facility has been completed and is open for business.

The first PACi Committee in 2010.

Back row: Steve Brickley (Admin Manager), Janet Brandon (member), Sue Birks (member) Malcolm Brandon (volunteer), Rosie Young (Publicity Officer), Shirley Dobson (member) and Daryl Dobson (member).

Front row: Jill Hambling (Secretary), Garry Hetherington (President), Ron Finneran (Vice President), Colin Dunn (Treasurer).

The development of this web site has been another important initiative of the project and we invite you to keep informed about what is happening at the Sapphire Aquatic Centre via the web.

Garry Hetherington, President of the Pambula Aquatic Centre Inc Committe
with Nicholas Pawley, the recently appointed Manager.

Following a rigorous and extensive advertising program to appoint the key position of Facilities Manager for the new Sapphire Aquatic Centre with many exceptional candidates to choose from, Garry Hetherington, President of the Pambula Aquatic Centre Inc Committee (PACI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nicholas Pawley to the position of Manager of the Sapphire Aquatic Centre Project.

“ Initially Nick will be employed by our existing organisation PAC Inc, the entity which fundraised, designed and built the Sapphire Aquatic Centre. When an agreement is formalised with the Bega Valley Shire Council, it is proposed that Nick’s contact will be transferred to the new, not-for-profit community company we have created to run the facility. The new company’s name is Sapphire Aquatic Ltd.”

Nick is married with two young children. He was born in Bendigo Victoria, and has lived in Sydney for the past 16 years. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the Aquatic Industry, having worked in a managerial capacity at Lane Cove Leisure Centre, Bexley Swim Complex, Lake Talbott Swim Complex and the Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre.

Nick was attracted to apply for the Sapphire Aquatic Centre position by the long and interesting history of the Pambula Swimming Pool, the Centre’s unique feature of being a fundraising project driven by a passionate local community, the idea of setting up a brand new Aquatic Centre, and the opportunity to provide attractive and innovative programs and attractions for all age groups for Bega Valley Shire residents and tourists alike. Nick is also most impressed with our beautiful coastline with its lack of high rise apartment blocks, an ideal place to raise a family.

One of Nick’s first tasks is to fill various positions.

Nick has a vision for the Centre. “Of upmost importance to me personally is the safety of everybody that comes into the centre. Therefore I will be advertising for suitable qualified persons for a variety of different roles, but not limiting myself, as I am very keen to employee local people that have a great personalities and are driven to succeed, so that I can develop them into aquatic and recreation professionals. A facility like the Sapphire Aquatic Centre has the potential to provide the Sapphire Coast community with a variety of activities and programs, and that is one of my key focus points - activities like learn-to-swim, squads, aqua aerobics, warm water exercise, birthday parties, general lap swimming and much, much more.

I am a great supporter of swimming clubs and other sporting groups, and am looking forward to working closely with all clubs in the Bega Valley Shire and beyond.

I am a very “Hands On” Manager, so you will see me around the Centre getting my hands dirty, but most importantly I am approachable, so if there is anything at all that you wish to discuss with me please do not hesitate to drop into the centre, call me on 0428 001 399, or email me on nick.pawley@sapphireaquatic.com.au.”

Congratulations, Nick. The Bega Valley Shire welcomes you and your family to the area, and to your exciting, demanding position at the Sapphire Aquatic Centre.

Rosie Young, Publicity Officer PACI