City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali (centre left) and Deputy Mayor Anthony Brophy (centre right) joined Shepparton Pickleball Club for its one-year anniversary.
At Shepparton’s VISY Community Stadium on April 2, a crew of passionate picklers honoured a special anniversary.
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The newly-founded Shepparton Pickleball Club was celebrating its first birthday with a throng of members with paddles in their hands and smiles on their dials.
Pickleball is a sport that was created in the United States in 1965 and is a mix of tennis, badminton and table tennis.
The sport’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years and has led to clubs popping up everywhere around the world, eventually expanding to the Greater Shepparton region when the club was formed in 2024.
It is designed to be a family-friendly game, with small courts limiting running and putting less strain on the knees and other lower joints.
Played in singles or pairs, the Shepparton Pickleball Club caters to social and competitive picklers alike.
The sport's terms such as the "kitchen” and the “double bounce rule” among others are simple and easy to digest.
Club president Michael Shannon believes pickleball can be picked up quickly during one of the organisation's come-and-try days with the next few set to be held on May 4, 18 and 25.
The sessions are open to 18 to 70-plus-year-olds (junior pickleball is not yet available due to limited time on courts) with equipment supplied.
Shannon encouraged anyone interested to give the sport a crack.
“Being a pickleball member of Shepparton means you can go and play anywhere in Australia because if you are affiliated with us and Pickleball Victoria you are a member and can play anywhere in Australia and around the world," Shannon said.
“You don’t have to be part of a team, we will put you in teams playing against similar strength (players).”
Club secretary Nicci Jeffery said the initial Shepparton pickleball crew started with six people and in the past 12 months had grown to 63 members.
“Socially it’s great for us older people that are getting beyond playing intense sports,” Jeffery said.
“Mentally and physically it is really good for us.
“You can come and go as you please.
“Everyone is welcome.”
Jeffery said she and Shannon were eager to capitalise on the rising popularity of pickleball and keep growing the club.
“We built up (the club) and we learnt all the rules and how to teach other people how to play,” she said.
“We then got our club going and incorporated it and started putting it out there, started the come-and-trys and if we get them three times we generally get them back after that.
“We have been away, we have had a couple of team events where we have gone to Bendigo, Wangaratta.”
For more information on the come-and-try days, check out the Shepparton Pickleball Club Facebook page.
Shepparton Pickleball Club president Michael Shannon, club secretary Nicci Jeffery, City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali and Deputy Mayor Anthony Brophy celebrate the club’s one-year anniversary.
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Shepparton Pickleball Club enjoyed its one-year anniversary on April 2.
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The VISY Community Stadium courts were packed with picklers.
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