THERE'S a new sport in Bunbury that's not quite tennis and not quite badminton, but has been increasingly referred to as the fastest growing sport in Western Australia.
Picture this: it's the summer of 1965 and American businessman Joel Pritchard has returned home from playing golf with his friends.
In their boredom and inability to find the correct equipment for badminton, the group locates a whiffle ball and paddles made from plywood.
With Pritchard's dog Pickles at his side, their badminton net is lowered, and the sport of Pickleball was born.
Now over 50 years later, pickleball is making traction as the sport of choice in Bunbury.
Bunbury Pickleball founder Jan Morgan started up the sport in partnership with the Bunbury and Districts Badminton Association Incorporated in November 2019, after receiving a letter from friends in Canada who 'raved' about the new sport.
"They told me they were hooked so I thought what a good idea, let's get it going here," Morgan said.
A small group of Morgan's friends then began playing every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm and Saturday 9:30am to 11:30am, coached by Perth-based Pickleball Western Australia secretary, Bob White.
According to the Pickleball Western Australia website, pickleball was first played in Australia in 2017.
The sport is played on a shorter and narrower court compared to tennis, with plastic paddles which are used to hit a perforated, plastic ball.
Due to the holes in the ball, it travels slower eliminating the need to run fast, which makes the sport popular amongst all ages and abilities.
Morgan said she 'couldn't have done it' without the support of the Bunbury & Districts Badminton Association.
"The Badminton association in Bunbury are very interested in supporting our sport on their courts. We couldn't play pickleball here without their maintenance man, Bryn inventing an absolutely marvelous way of lowering the nets in just two minutes or less."
It was Badminton and Districts Badminton Association's vice president, Nathan Papas' involvement with pickleball that led to the addition of an extra session on Thursday nights from 7:30pm to 9:30pm and increased growth and familiarity of the sport.
Assisting with the coordination of pickleball, Papas said of every sport he had ever played, pickleball was one of the most inclusive.
"We have such a laugh here and in Bunbury, pickleball creates this beautiful sense of community where everyone is included and welcomed. That's really important," Papas said.
"I don't think you can underestimate how much it's made a difference in people's lives; I've seen firsthand the effects pickleball has had on people and how it's improved their fitness, health and wellbeing. We've had people say it's changed their life, and you think from pickleball? Seriously? But it really has."
Papas referred to the group as a 'social, community' group, that had plans to soon transition to a registered, sporting association.
"We don't officially have members as we're not a formal club yet, but we do regularly see around 50 people per week that cycle through during our different session and casual playing times," Papas said.
He added that Bunbury pickleball's plans to transition into Pickleball South West ran in alignment with the current redevelopment of the South West Sports Centre and the Hay Park precinct.
"We knew it was time to formalise to be acknowledged as a real and meaningful sport. Ideally, we hope to maintain our wonderful partnership with badminton moving into the future. An expansion of the current badminton centre would allow more space between courts and gain additional courts to house pickleball," Papas said.
We've had people say playing the sport is changing their lives and you think from pickleball? Seriously? But it really has.
- Bunbury Pickleball coordinator Nathan Papas
"We are hopeful that we will be included in the redevelopment planning with the City of Bunbury, like other sports have been. Our goal is secure at least four designated and purpose-built pickleball courts, so we can continue to expand the sport in Bunbury".
To help celebrate World Pickleball Day on October 9, Bunbury Pickleball will hold its first, in house competition for existing players within the group.
"At this point the competition is just for our current players, however anyone is welcome to come down and watch. It's just fun and casual, although as soon as you say 'competition' people get excited and do really want to win," Papas laughed.
The competition will take place at the Bunbury & Districts Badminton Association next door to the South West Sports Centre in Hay Park.
Interested in joining the group?
Visit https://www.facebook.com/pickleballbunbury for more information.
Pip Waller
After working in film and television production in Perth, I returned to my hometown of Bunbury to further my skill set as a journalist. I am passionate about the empowerment of women and giving a voice to the unheard members of our community. You can contact me at pip.waller@austcommunitymedia.com.au
After working in film and television production in Perth, I returned to my hometown of Bunbury to further my skill set as a journalist. I am passionate about the empowerment of women and giving a voice to the unheard members of our community. You can contact me at pip.waller@austcommunitymedia.com.au
