Hot pool push

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
CRASH victims and patients recovering from surgery are often sent down the line to access hot water physiotherapy that will help them get back on their feet quicker.
But Yarra Junction’s township group wants the community to push for a hydrotherapy pool in the valley, and they see the Yarra Centre as the perfect place to house it.
Upper Yarra Community Voice president Glennice Mathers said hydrotherapy pools were a vital component for healing or relief from pain for those who suffer arthritis or injuries.
“You just have to look at what’s been happening on the roads up here – those people in hospitals will come out and need treatment,” she said.
Mrs Mathers has volunteered as a physiotherapy assistant for eight years at the Yarra Centre and runs a group called Glenn’s Goldies, helping her clients back on their feet after they incur injuries.
“Simple warm water therapy can help nerves come together,” she said.
“An enormous amount of people could benefit from this.”
Mrs Mathers herself had a knee reconstruction 14 months ago and had to be driven to Croydon – the closest hydrotherapy pool to the Yarra Valley – three times a week.
“This does make life far more difficult for those who are in pain to have to travel this substantial distance before and after the therapy,” she said.
“It felt so good in the water, just fabulous and then within three to four hours I needed it again.
“Even just walking in warmer water would have settled the aches down.”
Mrs Mathers said: “The water is comfortable at the Yarra Centre, but when you’ve got bad ailments and when you look at what’s happening on the roads in this area, we need a hydrotherapy pool in the valley.”
Councillor Chris Templer agreed that a hydrotherapy pool would be a great benefit, and said it would be “people power” that could make it happen.
“We need to gather as much support up and down the highway if we’re going to do this,” he said.
Mrs Mathers said the Upper Yarra Community Voice, and the people in the valley, needed to prove to the council the need for the pool.
“They know we need it but they won’t do anything until we get them moving,” she said.
“Hopefully it won’t take us as long as it took to get the pool.”
Letters of support can be emailed to uycv@netspace.net.au or posted to the Upper Yarra Community Voice, c/- Yarra Junction Post Office, Yarra Junction, 3797.