Gaye Glanville coaches female only ping-pong at the Sunbury and District Table Tennis Association. The Sunbury local speaks with Serena Seyfort about her passion for the sport and her town
What’s your connection to Sunbury?
My husband and I moved here in 1990 – 27 years ago. All three of our boys went to primary and secondary school in Sunbury. They all played tennis at Mt Carmel Tennis Club and I used to play at Sunbury Lawn Tennis Club. I still play with friends and we move between different clubs. Two of my boys and I play at Sunbury and District Table Tennis Association.
What do you like about Sunbury?
It’s not really a country town but it’s still separate from the rest of Melbourne. We don’t have traffic and population like in the other suburbs of Melbourne. It’s a bit slower-paced. But Sunbury also has everything here – you don’t actually need to leave Sunbury if you don’t want to. You can do all your shopping, all your sport – you can just about do everything.
If you could change anything about Sunbury, what would it be?
Most people probably would say the same thing: it’s just a pity that Sunbury grew so fast and that it wasn’t realised 20 years ago how Sunbury was going to grow so much, in terms of the infrastructure and the shops and the station and the parking. Sunbury just grew too fast for what it was in the first place. But, other than that, no – I love Sunbury as it is.
Do you have a favourite place and activity locally?
Sunbury and District Table Tennis Club, and the cafes and the restaurants in Sunbury. During the day I’ll often meet people for a coffee. I think the restaurants and cafes are really good in Sunbury.
Tell us about your involvement with Sunbury and District Table Tennis Association. How did you get involved?
I’ve been playing for the association since it started in 2012. Both my children, who at the time were 12 and 14, were asked by their friends to play. I used to go there every week to watch. Then the club asked me to fill in and then I started playing. I used to play table tennis when I was a kid as well.
I’m a level one coach and at the moment I coach the female-only ping-pong sessions, which run every Friday. This program is free for anyone to join in – it’s been sponsored as part of a state government initiative to get more females into sport. But the association wants everyone to get involved, all ages and men and women and all levels of skill. The club has practice nights, social nights and competition nights, and it’s really cheap.
Why do you champion table tennis as an activity?
Table tennis is a sport that anyone can play. It’s a sport that you can learn and improve at from any age.
From a fitness point of view, you don’t have to be super, super fit. But it is a good way to get fit as well.
It is also a really good way for all different age groups to intermingle and get to know each other. A 12 year old could be in a team with a 50 or 60 year old.
