It's little wonder Jarrod Strange feels at home at the Cowra Aquatic Centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He learnt to swim at the Centre.
Growing up he was a multiple Cowra Swimming Club and school age swimming champion.
After leaving school one of his first jobs was as a pool attendant at the centre.
And he met his current partner at a pool
This week he returns to centre as pool supervisor.
Looking over the pristine waters of the centre on Monday Jarrod recalled Della Toohey teaching him to swim in the same pool as a seven or eight year old.
"I'm back, just a lot older," he said.
Jarrod's career in pools started as a 17 year-old attendant with then Cowra Aquatic Centre supervisor Will Guy.
He left that role is his early twenties taking up a more senior role at the Canowindra Pool where he remained for eight years.
It was then on to Canberra in 2018 where he worked as a service technician on cooling towers.
Despite the change in career direction his involvement with pools continued.
"We did all the Defence (Department) pools," he explained.
The Cowra role came about after receiving a message from a friend that the vacancy existed.
The move also gave him the chance to be closer to his 11 year-old son Levi.
Jarrod's partner Charlotte Forester, who he haves a three-year-old daughter with, takes on the role as aquatic centre Team Leader.
"We'll be running (the centre) together," Jarrod said.
"She'll head up the lifeguards and I hope to be able to give the same service (previous supervisor) Kerry Lynch did.
"It's all positive, as supervisor I oversee everything.
"If I'm not here Charlotte is here to step in.
"She'll do all of the staff planning, help with the kiosk and I'll look after the water chemistry and quality and all of the technical side."
The aquatic centre has been open this week with reduced hours.
Today, Thursday, October 7 the centre will be open from 4pm to 6pm before closing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Opening hours for the week beginning, October 11 will be determined this week.
If you want to utilise the centre today you must sign in using the QR code at the front door and you must wear a mask when not in the water.
Contactless payment is encouraged.
Use of the centre is for 'swim and go' purposes. Social swimming is not encouraged and seating areas around the pool will not be available.
The change rooms will remain closed and only accessible via permission from Aquatic Centre staff.
The kiosk is currently closed.