When you are nearing 70 years of age with arthritis in both knees its not an easy job walking in and out of houses asking people to donate what money they can afford to help save Timaru’s first swimming baths that were first built at the turn of the Century in 1900.
Rewarding Work
A 95 year old women who gave me a donation said her donation was not for her it was to help the next generation. A young unemployed man pulled out of his pocket 60 cents in lose change and when I gave him his receipt he ran inside telling his mates that he had given some money to help the kids save their swimming pool. A couple in their 80′s made a generous donation and told me they were both life members of the Southend swimming club tha was formed in 1936.. For me it is not how much money we can raise its how many people we can get to become members of the Save the Century Pool Campaign.
Century Pool goes online
Thanks to the generosity of the Southend residents we have raised enough funds to build a webage for the Save the Century Pool campaign on the Timaru Direcory website. This is the first time any privately owned website has listed the Century Pool onto the internet. It can be found on the Timaru Directory home page right here on this website.
$1000 donation for the Kids
I have already invested a large amount of my money and time in promoing Timaru. If we can save the Century pool from being closed down I’m prepared to make a donation of $1000 to help them build a learners pool and challenge others in Timaru to do the same.
Next Story
Timaru children will Die on the road for a swim.
Mr Bishop,
I am one of the elderly residents who donated to your cause recently and I am utterly shocked that you have used my donation to build a website. This is clearly just an extension of your interests, and you are not using the money as intended. You should be out there raising awareness of the Century Pool rather than building a website that no-one will see. Most people my age don’t even know how to use the internet (my grandson is helping me type this). People in Timaru wont know about this issue unless you are out there on SH1 in bright yellow bike pants and a waxed chest holding up a sign that reads “Save Century Pool, otherwise I’ll have to go back to seeking donations for Phar Lap & my hotel (and that tap is running dry)”. It would also help if you poured petrol on yourself and flicked a match like the serious protesters overseas. This is what I gave you money for!
Yours, Betsy
Hi Betsy
You must be mistaken., you must have given your donation to save the Aquatic Centre on Maori Park I give all my customers a reciept and you are not one of them. I’m so glad you have been able to find my website that nobody reads. I love getting abusive letters from people like you it makes me more determined help the kids. Tell you faceless grandson not to reply again because it will ony go in the trash
Shame on you Betsy’s grandson for writing smack about Mr Bishop! He is only trying to raise money to save a Timaru icon! Just because you have no face doesn’t entitle you to belittle others. Mr Bishop – when will you be in Geraldine to collect donations? I am unable to leave the town and don’t know how to make a donation over the interweb thingy. Perhaps we could meet somewhere?
Thank you for sticking up for me Audrey. I didn’t think I had any friends in Geraldine but I was mistaken. Don’t worry about Betsy there are a lot like her in the world, all talk and no action. If you want to donate to the cause put it in the post to Save the Century Pool c/ Timaru Tourist Promotions Ltd 132 Gleniti Road Timaru and I will send you a receipt
Oh no that wont do at all. I don’t trust the mail service ever since that young postman in 1974 tried to steal my milk bottles. I’m a regular at the local Crown Hotel if you’d to stop by for a drink. You are actually very popular here, I’ve told everyone about your work to save the Century pool. Maybe we could discuss it over a chardonnay…?
Sounds like a trap to me. I have a better idea go online and google Geraldine Patchwork. Look at all the work I did for the Geraldine people to help celebrate their 150 years. Not one Geraldine person paid me 10 cents so I suggest you take the hat around those In the Crown Hotel then I might put Geraldine back on the Timaru Directory website. Good Luck