Mine do, and I couldn't even swim as a child.

Every year, sometime between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, our family would spend a day at a friend-of-a-friend's place and their indoor pool.

From 10am in the morning until 8pm at night, myself, my sister and a revolving cast of cousins would swim (I'd splash) and float (I'd sink) until our exhausted little bodies could take no more.

All year I'd look forward to this day almost as much as Christmas itself.

I am sure many people who grew up in Wagga would have fond memories about recreating at Lake Albert over summer.

For 50 years the lake has been a Mecca for people wanting to boat, fish, swim or just relax on the shore.

But, sadly, all is not well with our lake. 

Last summer it was a blue-green algae bloom that curtailed its use for many months. This week it has been struck by a faecal matter contamination.

An advisory notice, released by Wagga City Council on Friday afternoon, warned people against using the lake this weekend due to higher than ideal levels of the bacteria enterococci.

An understandably frustrated Wagga Boat Club commodore Mick Henderson says it is time to ditch the “Band-Aid solutions” and get serious about fixing up the man-made lake.

And to do that, he says, water from the Murrumbidgee River must be diverted to give the lake, which is been dependent on rainfall, the fresh flows it needs to keep it in good health.

Wagga cannot afford to have its lake out of action for great swathes of the summer. The lifestyle and economic benefits the lake offers when open are significant.

All we want for Christmas is a lake we can use. Which level of government – local, state or federal – is going to make that happen?

All the best for the week ahead, Ross.