Dick Caine has done it all at Carss Park Olympic Pool for the last 50 years.
He has coached Olympic champions, taught thousands of people to swim, worked with top sports stars in the gym and, at 71, still mows the lawns and cleans the toilets.
Much will change on July 1 when his lease expires and Georges River Council takes over managing the facility.
The council has invited Caine, health permitting, to remain as head swim coach.
Six years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid gland, and his condition continues to worsen.
Caine took the advice from council hard.
“Some of the parents are saying I should fight it, but I’ll think things over and see what they offer,” he said.
“I think the hardest part for me is that, for 50 years, if ever there was a problem here, they would look for Dick Caine to fix it.”
Council general manager Gail Connolly said, “Dick is a much-loved local icon”.
“He has been a wonderful ambassador for the Kogarah community for many years and more recently has worked with Georges River Council to deliver learn to swim and recreational opportunities to school children and seniors in the community,” she said.
“For more than 45 years Dick has trained Olympic, world and Australian champions such as Susie Maroney, Anthony Mundine and Janelle Elford, and I want to ensure that council can support Dick and his wife Jenny while they continue to operate his legendary Team Caine at the Carss Park pool.”
Ms Connolly said she had been working closely with the couple for some months to plan a way forward, where they could continue to operate at the pool without having to worry about cleaning, maintenance, servicing and repair of equipment and mowing the grounds.
“At this stage, I am hoping that Dick’s health will prevail and he can remain as the head swimming coach at the pool and focus on training young swimmers and professional athletes,” she said.
Ms Connolly said Caine has been a big supporter and tireless fundraiser for the Kogarah community over the years.
“Now it’s time for council to recognise that service and do some of the heavy lifting for Dick and Jenny while he returns to better health,” she said.
“I am hoping that when Dick and Jenny’s lease expires at the end of June 2017, he and Jenny will accept council’s offer to stay on at the pool and continue to do what they do best.
“From July 1, council will resume management of the pool, including the day-to-day operations of the pool and all maintenance and repair requirements.”
During his time at Carss Park, Caine developed a string of Olympians and world record-holders, including Michelle Ford, Janelle Elford, Karen Phillips, Stacey Gartrell and Michellie Jones.
The centre has also been used by many other sporting champions including marathon swimmer Susie Maroney, ironman Chris McCormack, boxers Kostya Tszyu, Jeff Fenech and Anthony Mundine and, for 38 years the St George rugby league team.
In 2015, Caine told the Leader, “Forget the champions, it’s the thousands of kids I have coached who have made it so special”.
‘‘I love the kids, and I hope they think I am more than just a coach. ‘We are like a family.”