From church halls and living rooms to a second-hand clubhouse, Wonthaggi’s table tennis club has stood the test of time. Photos: Wonthaggi Table Tennis Association.
By Julie Paterson
IN THE late 1800s it was known as whiff-whaff, pom-pom, pim-pam, flim-flam, ping pong and parlour tennis until the early 1900s when an English patent cemented the name as table tennis. The origins of the game apparently began in the upper classes in England who had room inside their lavish houses to play it as an after-dinner game.
IN THE late 1800s it was known as whiff-whaff, pom-pom, pim-pam, flim-flam, ping pong and parlour tennis until the early 1900s when an English patent cemented the name as table tennis. The origins of the game apparently began in the upper classes in England who had room inside their lavish houses to play it as an after-dinner game.
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Here in Bass Coast we have our own Wonthaggi Table Tennis Association (WTTA), established in 1953. Club secretary and treasurer Patricia Denier, who started playing table tennis as soon as she could hold a bat and peep over the table top, recounted how the club started off being played in various halls, recreation rooms, private houses and garages around the town. Players would come from Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Dalyston, Bass, Woolamai, Glen Alvie, Kongwak, San Remo and Cape Paterson.
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The club hosts social table tennis on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12-2pm. Practice and games are held on Monday evening from 6.30pm. Contact Patricia Denier on 5672 3421 or 0407 502 441 to find out more. |
“No one had cars. This was a coal mining town and we didn’t have money,” Patricia said. “People couldn’t travel far and we had to make our own leisure and it was held in different areas so people could play.
“A draw was held for who and where the next round would be played. Local groups formed; there was the mining team, the retail shops team, the churches team/s, the Cyclone team and others. The various churches had good halls and hosted many games, but by large it was played in private homes and garages.”
“A draw was held for who and where the next round would be played. Local groups formed; there was the mining team, the retail shops team, the churches team/s, the Cyclone team and others. The various churches had good halls and hosted many games, but by large it was played in private homes and garages.”
In 1964 there was word about that a Melbourne bowls clubhouse needed moving. The deal was that whoever was able to pull it down and/or shift it to a new location could have it for free. Henry Donohue, cofounder of Coldon Homes and a champion table tennis player, undertook the heavy lift and haul. With the agreement of the Borough of Wonthaggi, the clubhouse landed at the Wonthaggi recreation reserve where it remains today.
Over the years the club played many grades from A and A Reserve all the way to the juniors. In the 1960s it was a social hub for young people. The WTTA played in the Country Week Table Tennis competitions and won some shields, which they were very proud of as they were competing against many big country clubs.
Club players have also played in the national titles many times. One clubhouse wall is adorned with photos celebrating local players with various gold and silver medals from years of the competitive sport.
Over the years the club played many grades from A and A Reserve all the way to the juniors. In the 1960s it was a social hub for young people. The WTTA played in the Country Week Table Tennis competitions and won some shields, which they were very proud of as they were competing against many big country clubs.
Club players have also played in the national titles many times. One clubhouse wall is adorned with photos celebrating local players with various gold and silver medals from years of the competitive sport.