Doug Black has regained mobility in his knee playing pickleball in Echuca after an injury. Photos: Matthew Kappos.
Echuca residents are enjoying the mental and physical health benefits of pickleball.
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There are currently three weekly drop-in sessions of pickleball held at the Echuca Basketball Stadium each week.
However, that’s not all that’s happening with the sport locally. Regulars of the pickleball sessions, Doug and Trish Black, are two of the driving forces behind a push to establish a club and competition play in the region.
The couple picked up the sport about a year ago and were immediately hooked.
“I'd had an injury about eight months before, practising soccer on the sports field,” Doug said.
“I damaged the inside of my knee and ended up with a specialist in Melbourne who said you've only got one millimetre of cartilage on one side and five on the other side, so you're going to possibly have to have a partial knee replacement eventually.
“I came along, and played pickleball. First week (my knee) clicked a bit, second week it was a little bit painful still, third week no pain.
“Ever since then, it's just got stronger and all the cartilage is building back up so for me, I've been able to learn how to walk again because of playing this.”
Trish Black wants to see more younger people get involved with pickleball in Echuca.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Trish emphasised the social aspects of the game.
“We've not long moved here,” she said.
“Sports are a great way of meeting people, like-minded people, and so from that point of view I think it's really good too.”
There are plenty of senior members at the club, particularly participating in the Monday 1.30pm session, held during work hours. But Trish emphasised the sport wasn’t only for older players.
“It's a sport for everybody, it's not just for old people, there seems to be that perception,” she said.
“A lot of older people are doing it and that's good, but it is for everybody.”
While the drop-in sessions, on Mondays at 1.30pm, Wednesdays at 7.30pm and Fridays at 7pm, are great for building skills and social play, Doug and Trish are some of the leaders looking to establish an Echuca pickleball club in its own right.
This would involve securing insurance through affiliation with Pickleball Victoria.
“It's inevitable because people want it,” Trish said.
“So we're in the (process) now of working through it.”
Current pickleball sessions are held at the Echuca Basketball Stadium at a cost of $10, with equipment provided.
New players are welcome to drop in to a session and get started with pickleball.
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