Communities have long had the ability to shape their own destiny.

When the people of Portland decided in the late 1950s that preserving the lives of their children during the hot summers was more important than enjoying their own free time, the community-owned Portland Pool was the end result.

"60 years ago a group of dedicated men and women joined to build a pool for the community as a result of their concerns about the local children swimming in the dams and quarries around the town," explains pool secretary, Simone Taylor.

"The death of a 12 year old child that saddened the community impacted these individuals and the cement company so much, that they began raising funds and volunteering time, in possibly the largest volunteer tasks in this area," Mrs Taylor continued.

The former Portland Cement Works donated the block of land the pool is on as well as some supplies like cement plus the use of their machinery, then everyone who was employed there worked on the pool's construction, for nothing.

"Imagine 50 men finishing work and then going each day to build the local pool until dark. Men and women spent hours working until this pool was completed."

During construction the machinery helped, but there was a lot of pick and shovel work too, including shovelling five tonne loads of sand onto each of three tip trucks, each doing four trips from Bathurst one weekend.

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Since completion in 1959, "the pool has continued to be run by volunteers in the town," Mrs Taylor said.

"Lithgow Council does not own the pool but does assist financially to support this facility. The township of Portland owns the pool."

The volunteers also organise events, including a 60th Birthday gala night this Saturday (for which the tickets are already sold), to help raise further funds for the pool's upkeep and continuing operation.

"Any money put towards the pool is valued. Our volunteer committee has spent time planning for the future of the pool," Mrs Taylor explained.

"Last year we successfully had over 1000 patrons through the gate in three days. [It is] Also a reflection of the people coming into town now that The Foundations is open and [visitors are] looking at the silo art."

Mrs Taylor said that this year's fundraising efforts would be put towards the pool's current renovations and upgrades, primarily replacing trees lost last season in the storm as well as a bit of cosmetic improvement and pump house upgrades.

Depending on how soon the weather starts getting quite warm this year, Portland Pool will reopen for the summer season in late October or early November.