Jenny Pollard, The Buloke Times

A lifetime of table tennis service to the Victorian Table Tennis Country Championships saw Charlton’s Bill Freeman recognised with two significant awards at the recent annual event held at Traralgon over the King’s Birthday long weekend.

The championships, which draw the top players from around the state, acknowledged Bill’s unwavering contributions to the sport with the conferral of a 50-Year Award and a Country Lifetime Service Award applauding his input as both a player and a long-term administrator.

Showing stellar dedication, Bill has attended every TTVCC event since 1966 – either at the tables as a participant, or in combination with his role as a committee member – a position which he has held for 40 years. The only disruption to this extensive run was during COVID when lockdowns were in force, but once they were lifted, he was quickly back on board again. For the past three years he has attended in an administrative capacity only, having moved on from the battle of competition.

Within that time frame Bill also held the position of the chairman for the Country Championships – a 10 year stint which required him to also spend time travelling across the state for executive meetings. During his tenure he introduced initiatives such as the leading player medallions and winner’s shields to the championships, and in 2010 he added a personalised gesture by providing the “Bill Freeman Shield” for the winners of the B3 grade team.

Team tours

Providing opportunities for country players, Bill also took teams on tours through country New South Wales and South Australia on at least twelve different occasions. Reverse trips were also organised, with NSW players heading to country Victoria.

“These tours encouraged better country players to improve their game,” said Bill.

“And generated much goodwill – as well as providing me with a week off work to pursue the sport that I love!” he quipped. Unfortunately, touring opportunities ended in 2001.

As a player, Bill won the Country “D” grade singles in 1999, and has been a member of a Shield-winning team on several occasions.

In conversation, it is clear that this sport resonates deeply with Bill. Having developed an interest during his twenties playing social games at the Vespa Club in Melbourne, he continued to seek out opportunities to play as his work as a lawyer took him around the state.

From Donald in 1965, to Leongatha, then Charlton from 1978 and finally at Coonooer Bridge during the late 1980s, Bill could be found with a membership at each of these local clubs which were then part of the flourishing table tennis scene of the times.

Keen to recount details of the local clubs, Bill has compiled a list of player names which many of the “Times” readers will recognise; from Donald – Brian Bayles, David and Tim Doueal, Jack and Lil Kirk, Ian McEwen, Neil McEwen, and even the editor of this paper received a mention!

From Charlton – Peter Nener, Vic Arundell, Keith Bish, Ian Bish, Bill Crutch, Peter Noonan; and Coonooer Bridge – Robert Adams, Roy Postlethwaite, the extended Watts family, Graeme Bouchier and Neil Fyffe.

Anyone can play

In extolling the virtues of the game, Bill said table tennis was a sport which anyone can play. “You don’t have to have extensive skills to take it up”. Calling to mind the home game set-ups where the family could join in and have plenty of fun is a prime example of the accessibility of the sport.

Promoting fitness was another benefit, although Bill suggested that it helped to be in good condition to start with. Considering he only gave up playing at age 83 – that’s a pretty good recommendation!

Volunteers

From a social perspective, the outcome is also manifold.

“I have made a lot of friends through table tennis,” Bill said. “In fact, it was through table tennis contacts that my wife, Joy and I became TT volunteers at the Sydney Paralympics in the year 2000, at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 and also at two or three Pacific Games in Bendigo.”

So, what special techniques has this doyen of the sport employed to keep the edge on his own game over the years? Any killer moves, strategic plans or special feints to unsettle the opposition?

“Just keep the ball in play, and eventually your opponent will make a mistake!” was the advice imparted.

With the Paris Olympics soon to begin, Bill and Joy will no doubt be eager to watch the table tennis action unfold and marvel at the skills showcased by the crème de la crème of world competitors.

For now, though, Bill’s own enjoyment of playing the game and his contributions towards ensuring others can do likewise have received the acknowledgement it deserves.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 18 June 2024.