To get our ‘Clubs Around the Nation’ going it seems appropriate to feature Traralgon, one of four local associations that I have played for.
It was a pleasant surprise to receive this invitation (see below) from Rob Thompson, secretary of the Traralgon Table Tennis Association.
Traralgon is located along the Princes Highway in East Gippsland, Victoria.
1960 was the first year I played at Traralgon, just after I took up the sport.
A lot of fond memories come flooding back when my mind goes back to those days.
I remember the Englishman Jack Carrington, he called himself the World’s Coach and his stunning blond wife, visit Traralgon in the early sixties.
Jack won the world’s doubles title with Johnny Leach some ten years previous, so was no slouch at our game.
He demonstrated how to play a heavy backspin chop when playing against his wife.
“No one can hit a ball like that for a winner,” he proclaimed, “is there anyone here who could try to hit a winner off this heavy chop for me?”
Bill Hawley, the pen grip club champion, fronted and proceeded to quilt the first chop by Carrington for a winner. Carrington tried again and again, each time with the same result.
“Ah well,” he said resignedly, “almost everyone.” I’ll never forget this and ever since viewed Bill Hawley with great awe.
Hi Case, 4/6/09
Hope all is well. Doug Schoer gave me your email address to send some info about our 60th anniversary celebrations here in Traralgon. See attached. It would be great to have you come along.
We are planning a full weekend of table tennis activities with inter Association teams matches on Saturday and a Gippsland Closed tournament on Sunday. There will be BBQ social dinner on Saturday evening followed by an exhibition match on Saturday evening with some top Aus players. We have even arranged access to the soccer club Bar at the back of the stadium for Saturday BBQ and evening. (I’m sure that will keep some happy)
If you are able to help promote the weekend’s activities around Sth Gippsland that would be great. Any past players are most welcome to come along. (Better tell Debbie as well). Can play or simply watch and maybe catch up with some old TT friends.
Will send some more info to keep you up to date once details are known.
Look forward to catching up again
best regards
Rob Thompson
TRARALGON TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION INC.
60 YEARS of TABLE TENNIS in TRARALGON 1949 to 2009
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS 25 & 26 JULY 2009
ASSOCIATION HISTORY
_In 2009 the Traralgon Table Tennis Association Inc. will be celebrating its Sixtieth Anniversary as an operating Table Tennis Club in Gippsland.
The Traralgon Table Tennis Association was first formed in 1949 by the Apex Club of Traralgon. The Club was initially comprised only a small number of keen individuals simply interested in a regular game of Table Tennis.
As the word spread about the newly formed Table Tennis Association so did the popularity of Table Tennis as a recreation and sporting activity in Traralgon. Membership increased and soon the newly created Association began to attract a number of constituent clubs. The Clubs came from a complete cross section of the local community and included church groups, small business groups, and larger local industry work groups like the Victorian Railways Institute, SECV and APM.
The continual increasing interest and participating numbers now presented the Association with a new challenge; how can all these people be accommodated and where can all these people play.
Facilities were at a premium and in the attempt to accommodate all players the Traralgon Association moved to a variety of venues and during the course of time had many homes. In the early days these included a variety of church halls and the larger Victorian Railways Institute (VRI) hall in Traralgon.
However the steady stream of new and keen players continued and to accommodate the large numbers of players the Association relocated to the Traralgon Agricultural Show grounds in 1960. The show grounds provided a great arrangement where tables could be permanently set up for the duration of organised competitions. Player numbers continued to increase with an attendant development in player expertise
The Traralgon Association remained in this venue until an ever present dream developed into an ambitious project to construct its own dedicated Table Tennis Stadium. The Traralgon Association commenced construction its own dedicated facility in 1970.
The new dedicated Table Tennis stadium which provided 10 permanent tables was officially opened by VTTA President Dr Vic French in May 1973. The Association has conducted local and state level competition at the Davidson Street Stadium ever since.
In late 1981 the concept of exclusively veterans Table Tennis competitions began with the first Veteran Elite Championships being played at Melbourne’s Albert Park Table Tennis Complex. The popularity of this component of the sport grew steadily and in the early 1990’s Traralgon developed a proposal to also offer exclusively Veteran competition. In mid 1992 Traralgon Table Tennis Association conducted its first exclusive Veterans Pennant Competition.
After a number of years of not being involved in running state level tournaments the Traralgon Association returned to the Victorian Tournament circuit in 1993 with a complete range of Senior, Junior and Veteran Tournaments.
The Traralgon Tournaments soon established their place as highly regarded events that attracted the top players from throughout Australia. The Senior Open Tournament fields have included both Men’s and Women’s National Champions including Australian Olympic representatives. The Traralgon Senior Open title holders were also the national title holders.
In 1999 the Traralgon Association celebrated its 50th Anniversary as an operating Table Tennis Association. This milestone was celebrated with a large reunion dinner in Traralgon for all past and present members.
The sport of Table Tennis continued to see customary support in Traralgon and with regular pennant competitions and state level tournaments the capacity of the ten table stadium was frequently stretched. Expanded facilities were again on the agenda and in 2000 the Traralgon Association constructed the new International Wing stadium extension. The stadium extension provided the Traralgon Association with an additional four full sized ITTF international sized courts.
In late 2003 the Traralgon Table Tennis Association began to develop Keenagers Table Tennis as an extension of social Table Tennis for senior players. Keenagers Social Table Tennis commenced during seniors week in March 2004 catering primarily, but not exclusively, for all players aged 50 and over. Keenagers recreational Table Tennis continues today with growing support.
In 2009 the Traralgon Table Tennis Association Inc. will be entering its 60th year as an operating Table Tennis Club. The Association is making preparations to hold a celebration Week-End with Diamond Anniversary Competitions for teams and individual Tournament competition for all Gippsland Regional Table Tennis players.
All regional Table Tennis players past and present are invited to visit the Traralgon Association Table Tennis Stadium during the Week-End of 25-26 July 2009 to join in the festivities and celebrations and also play in the many different Teams and Tournament events.
The 2009 Traralgon Diamond Anniversary celebrations are aimed to provide a range of fun activities for all Gippsland Table Tennis players. The Committee and Members of the Traralgon Table Tennis Association Inc. look forward to extending a very cordial welcome to all regional Table Tennis players and supporters._
The Traralgon Diamond Anniversary festivities will commence on Saturday 25th July 2009 and will feature as a Celebration Party with Teams and Individual Competition,
Novelty Events including a Bar-B-Que Dinner preceding a special feature of top class Table Tennis Exhibition Matches at the Stadium on Saturday evening 25th July.
The Traralgon Diamond Anniversary celebrations will conclude with a spectacular Anniversary Tournament for all regional players on Sunday 26th July.
Editor’s note: Mick Wright and Case de Bondt joined the inaugural Veterans competition in 1992.
