Moree’s bard of the baths

Seventy-nine year old Ron O’Mullane has been swimming at Moree’s Artesian Baths complex since he was five years old.

“I’ve never been a champion swimmer, but I love coming to this pool,” says Ron. “It’s invigorating, healthy and it’s very good for relaxation. It’s very much part of my life and I miss it if I don’t get there.”

Born and bred in the north-west NSW town, Ron remembers when more than 500 people used to turn up to the pool on Sunday nights for the swimming carnivals. He also remembers the days when the outdoor pool included a diving tower.

“Three local fellows on bicycles used to ride off the high board in three different directions – they’d leap off their bike before they went in. Couldn’t do that today, too many OH&S issues.”

Up until recently Ron always wore a white cap with Moree on it when he swam at the pool. But once the cap got a hole in it he hasn’t been able to use it anymore, and unfortunately he can’t find one the same. He also used to swim the number of laps of his age. But for the past few years his daily routine is 10 laps of backstroke in the complex’s 50-metre outdoor pool.

“I have worn out shoulders now so I can only do backstroke,” says Ron. “But when I do backstroke I can look at the sky and the birds. It’s magnificent!”

Ron also spends time in the baths’ two hot spa pools where he chats to locals and people from out of town, many of whom have been visiting the baths for many years.

“You are never lonely in this pool,” says Ron. “It is a great social place and once a pair of swimmers come on everyone is equal.”

Ron’s love for Moree pool has inspired him to write poems about the place.





Moree’s Hot Artesian Pool Complex attracts more than 200,000 visitors to the town each year. They come for the healing qualities of the artesian bore water that was discovered in 1895. Locals love their pool too and none more so than 77-year-old Ron O’Mullane.

In 2008 Ron was made an honorary life member of the pool. “Coming to the pool is very much part of my life” says Ron. “It’s invigorating, it’s healthy and it’s very, very good for relaxation. I miss it if I don’t get there.”

“I’ve met some fascinating people at the pool. Ron’s love of his pool has inspired him to write poems about the place.



In 2008 Ron was made an honorary life member of the pool. “Coming to the pool is very much part of my life” says Ron. “It’s invigorating, it’s healthy and it’s very, very good for relaxation. I miss it if I don’t get there.”





“This pool has wonderful healing qualities; it’s a great social place and once you put a pair of swimmers on everyone is equal,” says 77-year-old Ron O’Mullane.

Ron O’Mullane has been swimming at Moree Artesian Baths and Pool since he was five years old. He was never a great swimmer but has continued to swim regularly at the pool for most of his 77 years.

“The nuns taught us to swim when we were very young but I wasn’t great at it,” says Ron. “They had to cheat with me to get me to pass as I was a skinny kid and couldn’t float.

“I’ve never been a champion swimmer, but I love coming to this pool. It’s invigorating, healthy and it’s very, very good for relaxation. It’s very much part of my life and I miss it if I don’t get there.”

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