When Bryan Pasfield opened the doors to the Manuka Pool on Saturday, it was the first time in more than 65 years that the key was not turned by a member of the Taverner family.
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Mr Pasfield said the first swimmers of the season had made him welcome as the new manager of the inner-south pool, which he intended to keep running with little change.
''I don't want to come in here and make a lot of changes,'' he said. ''A lot of people love the pool and almost take ownership of it. We'll just take little steps.''
Mr Pasfield said he had more than 100 people through the doors yesterday - a good start to a season that could see more than 35,000 swimmers take to the water in Manuka. About 70 people tested the waters in Manuka on Saturday, while almost 250 swimmers flocked to the Dickson Aquatic Centre. Dickson manager Chris Graham said it was a typical start to the season, considering the top temperature of 19.2 degrees on Saturday.
Pools at both Dickson and Manuka are now open seven days a week, while the outdoor areas of Canberra Olympic Pool - including the diving and toddlers' pool - will open to the public on Thursday.
