JENNIFER and Matt Mamouney will shut the Albury Swim Centre tomorrow and say farewell to swimmers and sunbakers for the 20th successive season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This week they gave a last breakfast to dozens of regular lap swimmers they say come in all ages, shapes and sizes, but only in summer.
The brother and sister are respective managers of the Albury centre and the Lavington centre, both operated by the city council but leased to a Mamouney family company.
Miss Mamouney has managed the Albury centre for 20 years with the help of sisters Kate and Rebecca and her mother, Elaine.
Mr Mamouney has operated the Lavington centre for five years after managing Wodonga’s Stanley St pool for 17 years and also worked at the Albury and Indigo shire pools.
Sister Phillippa has been helping him at Lavington this year.
After rising early most mornings to open their pools at 5.30am, the two pool managers both plan a restful winter.
“I plan to eat, sleep and drink and hibernate like a big bear,” Miss Mamouney said.
Her brother plans to spend more time with his wife, Sonya, and daughters Morgan, Stella and Laura.
They both love the water-based jobs but say you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t.
“The last few nights I’ve been home early at 7.30pm and didn’t know what to do with my time as usually we don’t close until 9pm,” Miss Mamouney said.
The family has been managing pools since their late father John Mamouney first leased the Wodonga pool in 1982.
Miss Mamouney says she hasn’t swum laps for several years as she does not have the time.
But Mr Mamouney plays water polo for Lavington Panthers and brother Stephen, their business adviser, is a regular swimmer as are sisters Kate and Rebecca.
“Mum swims the most of us,” Miss Mamouney said.
The family has observed several changes in swimming over 20 years.
“There’s more awareness of sunburn, so we get fewer sunbakers now,” Miss Mamouney said.
“Fewer women are swimming and now it’s the men who are looking after their figures and trying to keep fit.
“Swimming costumes have changed mostly to board shorts for the boys instead of footy shorts or cut-off jeans, and girls like board shorts worn with bikini tops.”
The Mamouneys won’t be drawn into discussing options for a new aquatic centre.
