Plan to honour Jodie Henry OAM

New pool could celebrate swim superstar

There could be a golden glow to Logan City Council’s only Olympic-sized pool when it re-opens later this year after a refurbishment.

A proposal to name the new pool in honour of Jodie Henry OAM, the city’s most successful homegrown swim star, was endorsed today by Logan City Council’s Lifestyle Committee.

Jodie won three gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay). She was the first Australia since Dawn Fraser in 1964 to win the individual 100m freestyle at an Olympics.

Jodie also claimed three world records during her swimming career and represented Australia at the swimming World Championships, the Pan Pacific Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.

The former Springwood resident was inducted to the City of Logan’s Wall of Acclaim in 2015 and was a guest judge at the City of Logan Sports Awards last year.

City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said naming the City’s premier swimming pool after one of our finest local swimmers was a logical and inspiring choice.

“Jodie’s achievements are an inspiration to our next generation of swimmers who might be dreaming about the 2032 Olympics to be staged in South East Queensland,” Cr Power said.

“As an avid swimmer, I share our community’s passion for this fantastic sport and know many would strongly support naming our new pool after Jodie to celebrate her many achievements.”

Jodie is a former Springwood Central State School student who regularly visited Logan North Aquatic Centre.

She said it would be an “absolute honour” to have the new pool bear her name.

“I remember doing primary school swim meets (at the pool), as we weren’t fortunate enough to have a pool at our school,” Jodie said.

“Once I got a bit better, there were quite a few swim meets held there representing the swim club … (and) once I’d had my own kids, we’d go there for a splash with my dad.”

Jodie shares the Mayor’s hope that her name might inspire youngsters, and particularly young women, to take up swimming, or get involved in any regular sport.

“I couldn’t be happier to help that cause, because the more women that are represented in sport, the better it is going to be for generations to come,” she said.

Logan City Council’s $9 million upgrade of the Olympic-sized outdoor pool at the Logan North Aquatic Centre includes:

• space for two additional lanes
• improved water quality controls
• new energy-efficient pumps and filtration
• the removal of obsolete pipework and
• an exciting new children’s water play splash pad

The additional space will increase the pool’s capacity for leisure, squad training, school carnivals and regional competitions.

The upgrade is also expected to result in lower water consumption costs and reduce the frequency of pool closures for maintenance works.

The centre’s inSports gym, the indoor pool and, the Aqualogan Laurie Lawrence Swim School remain open while development works continue.

The proposal to name the outdoor pool in honour of Jodie Henry OAM will now be considered at Logan City Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, February 23.

The Logan North Aquatic Centre is at 2 Sports Drive in Underwood.