Aquatic centre opens at DGC
The Durban Dirls’ College aquatic centre and the Barbara Dowell pool was officially opened.
A FULL moon and perfect weather provided the perfect backdrop for the official opening of the Durban Girls’ College Aquatic Centre on 14 April.
The aquatic centre took a year to be completed. Swimming, water polo and synchronised swimming to the music of the school orchestra were featured on the programme.
The pool was officially opened by John Greenacre, great-grandson of the founder, Sir Benjamin Greenacre, who donated the land on which the school is built.
Special guests were Chad Ho, who swam a Chad Challenge against the school’s fastest girls, and Charl Crous, who raced in a Dash for Cash. Both guests played water polo for the Old Girls’ team.
This new facility can be used for swimming, synchronised swimming training, underwater hockey and it meets the international specification for both men’s and women’s water polo.
DGC was the first school to have a private swimming ‘bath’ and at the opening of that pool in 1939, the six year old great-granddaughter of Sir Benjamin’s was the first to swim across the pool. At the opening of the aquatic centre, six-year-old Julia Butcher, great-great granddaughter of benefactor, Walter Butcher, swam across the pool as the ribbon was cut.
