Club History
It was a sunny day on the 24th of February in 1966 when the HPK Swim Club was Incorporated. Or at least in my mind it was.
I wonder if our forefathers and mothers could have envisioned what we would become back then. I suspect no 10 year plan, no strategic initiatives and no occupational safety and health concerns. Nothing but a real desire to see swimming in the South Eastern suburbs prosper. There was clearly a real desire to see swimming grow. A group of friends who drove through to the Tepid Baths in town up the concrete Pakuranga highway for a swim were the precursor to the club. More on that later.
In 1966 and after Pakuranga College had built its fine new 36 and 2/3rd yards pool the Pakuranga Swimming Club had its new home. Outdoors and cold but potentially more convivial than one lane traffic all the way to town.
Our 50th Anniversary
For all of those who have been or are currently involved in the HPK family (from 3 months old through to our revered life members, to our sponsors, and our parents, to our staff and volunteers) I think we can allow ourselves the opportunity to feel a little pride in what we have achieved. We will be writing a piece about the club every week on Wednesday over the next few months as we finalize arrangements for our Awards dinner and 50th celebration. Spread the word far and wide because we would like to see as many of our current and former members come together to reflect on what was, what might have been and where we are headed. We will also have questions about our history for prizes…For more information email horst@swimgym.nz.
I guess it felt inevitable for the club but looking back it seems unnecessary. There were some concerns from the neighbours and the school with the clubs late night use of the pool and in particular the lighting. Membership started to wane and the club looked likely to fade into obscurity. But then a brand new pool was built at Howick Intermediate. The swim club jumped at the opportunity to transfer to that location. Leaving behind a relationship with the school and the pool that would take until 1996 to repair.
The new pool, while only 25m long was more than adequate to look after the club, and the club once again began to grow. Emphasis had always been on having fun. The new pool had the right environment for summer fun and the school in the late 1960’s was sympathetic to the needs of the club.
While sitting at the Howick Intermediate School pool this weekend some of the long terms locals were reminiscing about long hot summers’ days playing at the pool. Leaving home at 10.00am and returning after 5.30pm. The only thing between surviving the days and starvation being a 20c scoop of chips and a bit of fish from the Botany Road corner takeaways. Have we been there since 1967? Nope…but that’s also another story.
