Centre marks 10th birthday

Aug 29 2008 by Caroline Boxer, Strathearn Herald

STAFF at the Strathearn Recreation Centre are preparing to party as this weekend marks the popular leisure facility’s 10th birthday.

And they are hoping that the community will join them in a packed programme of events organised to mark the occasion.

The 10th birthday bash will begin on Saturday with a variety of entertainment and activities laid on throughout the day. These will then be repeated on Sunday.

Attractions will include face painting, a bouncy castle, Giant Operation and Connect 4, stocks and a buzz wire.

Adults will be able to carry out a gym induction and there will also be opportunities to try out different sports including badminton.

A timetable of activities has also been arranged for the pool (same times for both days) - with swimming between 10 and 11am; Water Walkerz from 11am to noon and 2 to 3pm; Aqua Run from noon to 1pm; Swimming/floats 1pm to 2pm and 3-4pm.

Anyone born on the day of the centre opening (August 31) should also bring along their birth certificate for the opportunity to be entered into a draw to win six months free membership.

And if you take out membership on either day you will also receive the first month free.

Commenting on the celebrations, Tracey Greer, operations manager with Perth and Kinross Leisure said: “The Recreation Centre has been a fabulous facility for the Strathearn area and has proved popular with both locals and visitors of all ages.

“The programme and range of sports activities continues to evolve in response to public demand and while we celebrate our 10th anniversary we also look forward to a new era within the new Strathearn Community Campus.

“We hope people make time to come along and join in this weekend’s fun and help us celebrate this very important landmark.”

The event has been advertised throughout the area by a poster designed by Alannah Macgregor, a pupil from Madderty Primary School and the winner of the poster competition run with the local schools at the end of last term. Alannah won a family ticket for the weekend, a one year junior membership and a party at the centre for her class.

The runners-up, who all won a family ticket for one day over the weekend, were Louisa Leckie from Ardvreck and St Dominic’s pupils Ellie Miller and Iona Campbell.

The doors of the £2 million Strathearn Recreation Centre were first opened to the people of Strathearn on Monday, August 31, 1998.

The day was an emotional one for members and directors of Strathearn Recreation Centre Limited, some of whom had been campaigning and fundraising for over 20 years to see the idea for a centre come to fruition.

Now run by Perth and Kinross Leisure, an independent, non-profit making company, the centre is an integral part of community life in the area - used by schools and individuals on a daily basis for a variety of sporting and fun activities.

In August/September 2009 the centre will become part of the new Strathearn Community Campus and users will gain use of a new extended building. Additional facilities will include an additional sports hall, a dance studio, two squash courts, climbing wall, a new gym, full size astro-turf pitch and other pitches.

Tickets for the 10th birthday party are priced £10 for a family; £3.50 for adults; £2.50 for juniors and under 5s free.