Introduction

This year, 1982, is the fiftieth year in which competitive Table Tennis has been played in Toowoomba, although the Association as we know it was not founded until 1937.

Whilst a completely comprehensive history of Table Tennis in Toowoomba cannot be written, as not everything would have been recorded over the years, the following is as complete a history as I can write it from information found in old Minute Books and other records which are available.

I have tried to show the development of "our game" in Toowoomba, and the problems met and overcome by the early pioneers of the sport in this city. There are a lot of facts and figures which I hope you will not find boring, but they have been included as they are part of the history of the Association, and they show, very gradually, how costs have risen over the years. I trust you will find this history as interesting as I have.

A. Ghee, 1982

Life members of the Toowoomba Table Tennis Association

• Mr. L.G. Perry (1941)
• Mr. G. Murphy (1949) (also a Life Member of the Q.T.T.A.)
• Mr. K. Pullen (1951) - Dec'd
• Mr. N. Hochruder (1955) (also a Life Member of the Q.T.T.A.)
• Mr. B. Hochruder (1958)
• Mr. J. Hamilton (1961)
• Mr. W. Hetherington (1964)
• Mr. H. Weber (1966)
• Mr. C. Kingston (1979)

Toowoomba Table Tennis---A Half-Century of History 1932--1982

by A. Ghee

In 1932 a group of people got together and decided to form a Table Tennis Club or, in all probability, a "ping-pong" club. In those days, they had no hall of their own, and played at several different venues around Toowoomba, including in many private homes.

Written records can be traced back only as far as 31st August, 1939, when meetings of delegates from the various clubs which had been formed were held at the Memorial Hall, and the Association had the large sum of £15-9-1d., or $30.91, in the bank. At that time fixtures were being played in the Trades Hall at a rental of £6, or $12.00, a month.

In those early days, sandpaper covered bats were used. At the Meeting on 31st August, 1939 mentioned above, a motion was moved and carried "that rubber bats be allowed". No doubt that first rubber would have been a far cry from the umpteen types in use today, but one would suppose that just about anything would be better than the old sandpaper bats. Sandpaper bats were, of course, still used as well.

1940

At the Annual Meeting held on 29th March, 1940, the credit balance of the Association was a whole one shilling and fourpence, or fourteen cents, but it owned assets of £24-10-7 ($49.07). The late Mr. Duncan Thompson was elected President at that Meeting, a position he held for two years, Mr. S.G. Stephens - Patron, Mr. J. Double - Secretary and Mr. S. Hensler - Treasurer.

The Affiliation fee set at that Meeting was "two shillings per team", and at the first meeting after that Annual Meeting, table fees were set at sixpence (five cents) per player. From April, 1940, two types of balls were used, namely the "Vindex Official Teema" and the "New Villa XX".

There were numerous Clubs in existence in the early days, and as occasionally happens these days, some business houses entered teams. For example, in 1940 teams listed for one season of fixtures were "C.Y.M.", "S.S.L.", Centrals, Rosenstengels, Outcasts, Colts, Eagers, Lydwyn, McKinneys, Newcomers, Nationals and Carltons. (South Toowoomba Club was later formed by players from McKinneys.)

Championships were played annually, presumably the forerunner of the Toowooroba Closed Titles, and in 1940 Ladies Doubles were included for the first time, the entry fee being one shilling and sixpence (fifteen cents) per pair. Those 1940 Championships attracted 85 entries and a profit of £2-4-1 ($4.41) was made by the Association. I can trace winners in these Championships only as far back as 1949. The Association had the grand total of £11-2-5 ($22.25) in kitty as at 18th July, 1940.

From available records, it seems that the Association played its first intercity match against Ipswich on 21st September, 1940, for the Piggott Shield. During 1940 many players were away at Military Camps, which resulted in teams pulling out of fixtures with the attendant headaches which this caused the Association's Executive.

1941

At the Annual Meeting on 20th March, 1941, the Honorariums paid to the Secretary and Treasurer were £2-2-0d ($4.20) each. All Office Bearers were elected unopposed. Affiliation fees remained at two shilling (twenty cents) per team, and table fees remained at sixpence (five cents) a player during 1941.

In April, 1941, Mr. L.G. Perry became the first Life Member of the Association.

Some time prior to March, 1941, play had ceased in the Trades Hall, but in April, 1941, the Association was once again offered that hall for fixtures at a rental of fifteen shillings ($1.50) per night. There were several conditions to be met by the Association, including - "Players to wear sandshoes or play in socks or with bare feet". At this time also, Meetings were being held either in Mr. Duncan Thompson's Showrooms or in Mr. George Murphy's Barbers Shop.

In the early 1940's, to celebrate the end of the fixture season, dances were held. Admission prices to the 1941 dance were one shilling (ten cents) for Ladies and one shilling and sixpence (fifteen cents) for Gents, and players were to "bring their own refreshments". This dance was not a successful venture, and a meeting was called on llth July, 1941 to discuss ways and means of raising money to wipe out the deficit caused by the failure of the dance. Mr. Duncan Thompson had come to the aid of the Association financially, and at a meeting on 16th September,1941, a motion was moved and carried that "owing to the uncertainty of the prospects of Table Tennis all assets of the Association be given into the care of Mr. Duncan Thompson as a security for the debt owed by the Association to him". This was to be the last meeting for five years, as the Association was disbanded for the remainder of World War 2.

1946

The Association was reformed at a meeting held at the Memorial Hall on 14th October, 1946. Mr. George Murphy was elected President, Mr. Duncan Thompson - Patron, J. Watts - Secretary and Mr. J. Roach - Treasurer. Affiliation fees remained the same as prior to the war, namely two shillings (twenty cents) per team.

Thirty affiliated teams were accepted for fixtures in October, 1946, and the Association then had the task of finding a hall to play in, and of having new table made. A dance was held in the Trades Hall on 20th December, 1946 to raise money for the Association, and exhibition matches were played at that dance. Misses Tess Laughren and Joyce Brunner (Hetherington) were the ladies selected to play in those matches, and the men selected were D. Court, V. Cornish and F. Leeds. A raffle was also held in conjunction with the dance, and both were so successful that the Association showed a profit of ,£41-7-6d. ($82.75), which was pretty good for those days.

Meetings at this time were being held in the St. George Society Rooms. South Toowoomba and Diggers Clubs both came into existence in late 1946, and along with Centrals Club, were the only clubs still in existence in Toowoomba approximately thirty years later.

As at 17th December, 1946, the assets of the Association consisted of "five new tables, seven nets and supports and fifteen balls - some used", and £8 ($16.00) in the bank.

1947

Fixtures commenced in the Drill Hall from 1st January, 1947, and from 25th March, 1947 meetings also were held in that hall. As at 7th March, 1947 the Association was £8 ($16.00) in debt, and this time it was Mr. George Murphy who helped out financially.

The first Banquet held by the Association was on 10th May, 1947, with three shillings (thirty cents) per person being charged for admission. The account to the Association for catering amounted to £3-10-0 ($7.00).

1948

At the 1948 Annual Meeting on 31st March, Mr. Duncan Thompson was again elected Patron, Mr. George Murphy - President, Mr.- J. Hornick - Secretary and Mr. A. Langton - Treasurer. Thirty-four years ago, the Association had one problem which still exists today, and at that 1948 Annual Meeting quite a lengthy discussion was apparently held on "ways and means of giving the game more publicity", but it seems no real solution could be found back in those days either. Affiliation fees.remained at two shilling (twenty cents) per team.

Intercity matches were held in Toowoomba in June, 1948 between Toowoomba, Brisbane and Ipswich. Blue shirts, embroidered with a white "T" enclosed in a three-point shield were provided for the Toowoomba representatives .

1949

At the time of the 1949 Annual Meeting on 29th March, the Association was in a fairly healthy financial position, with a bank balance of £96-3-8 ($192.38). Messrs. Duncan Thompson, George Murphy and A. Langton were re-elected Patron, President and Treasurer respectively, and Mr. Norm Hochruder became the new Secretary. Once again the problem of a playing venue cropped up, as the Drill Hall became available only one night a week, and with the number of teams competing, all fixtures could not be conducted on one night.

It was at this meeting that Mr. George Murphy was elected a Life Member of the Association, and he received his Life Membership badge at the Annual Meeting the following year.

The Association began playing fixtures in the Showgrounds Pavilion in April, 1949, at a rental of £2-5-0 ($4.50) a week, and the Association had to install lights over the tables at its own expense. It was at this same time that the Barna ball was adopted for use, and these balls were purchased from McKinneys for 13/6d ($1.35) a dozen. The balls we use today cost in the vicinity of sixty cents each, so even back in 1949, at approximately eleven cents each, balls were not cheap.

In 1949, eight Clubs were affiliated with the Association, and thirty teams were registered for fixtures, each team consisting of four players. There were eight Ladies' teams - thirty-two ladies. There certainly were a lot of fixture players in Toowoomba in those days.

Apparently Stanthorpe had a fairly strong Association in those days, where play was of a high standard and "they were very keen and had good tables". In April, 1949, a Toowoomba player. Miss R. Roife, won the "Ladies Singles Championship of the Granite Belt".

In June, 1949, the Association had a credit balance of £106-2-8 ($212.28). It was in this month also, that four Toowoomba teams travelled to Stanthorpe for a match against the Association there. Three pounds (six dollars) were paid to each car owner to cover expenses, each player contributing 7/6d (seventy-five cents) with the Association paying the rest.

The first written record of Toowoomba teams being sent to play in a Queensland Championship was in September, 1949. The teams were - Men - J. Fox (Capt.), J. Whewell and B. Hochruder (S.Townson - reserve). Ladies - Miss R. Roife, Miss N. Smart and Mrs. K. Townson. A junior boy K. Stephson was also sent. The Championships were played in Townsville, and rail fares at that time were £4-6-0 ($8.60) second class, and £7-5-8 ($14.58) first class. A "Subscription List" was opened to which it was hoped the general public would subscribe to help defray the expenses of the team members. Unfortunately, only £17-6-0 ($34.60) was collected, resulting in each player receiving £2-3-3 ($4.33). However, Mr. J. Fox and Miss R. Roife won the Mixed Doubles title and Misses R. Roife and Smart reached the semi-finals of the Ladies Doubles.

In September, 1949, the credit balance of the Association had dropped to £37-14-7 ($75.47), but in November it had bounced up to £77-17-0 ($155.70). The Banquet held in November, 1949 cost each player four shill- ings (forty cents).

South West Queensland Championships were held annually, but the first Championships of which written record of winners is available were in 1949. These Championships were held until 1979, when they then became the Region 7 Titles.

1950

At the Annual Meeting on 14th March, 1950, Mr. J. Roife was elected Patron, Messrs. George Murphy and Norm Hochruder were re-elected President and Secretary respectively, and S. Mackay was elected Treasurer. Affiliation fees were still two shillings (twenty cents) per team.

For several years up until the above Annual Meeting, there had been two administrative bodies in Queensland competing for control of Table Tennis in the State, namely the Queensland Table Tennis Association and the Queensland Table Tennis Federation. The Toowoomba Association had been affiliated with the Q.T.T.A. previously, but at the 1950 Annual Meeting it was decided to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

Honorariums granted to the Secretary and Treasurer at this meeting were five guineas ($10.50) and three guineas ($6.30) respectively. Also at this meeting, plans were set in motion for having an entrant in the 1950 Carnival of Flowers Queen Competition, in the hope of gaining some publicity for the Association.

At the first meeting following the 1950 Annual Meeting, table fees were set at one shilling and sixpence (fifteen cents) for A Grade and one shilling (ten cents) for the lower grades. It was decided at that meeting to purchase material to have blouses made for Toowoomba's lady representative players, as the shirts they were given to wear at the 1949 Queensland Championships were too uncomfortable. The material was bought at Piggotts for 5/8d (58 cents) a yard.

Thirty-five fixture teams from twelve clubs were affiliated with the Association for the 1950 Winter Fixtures.

Miss Pat Power was elected as the Association's representative in the Carnival Queen Competition, and a committee of sixteen was selected to organise fund raising projects in this regard. Various functions were held including a "Back to Childhood" party in the Laurel Bank Hall, dances at the Railway Institute Hall and other halls, and shows in the Town Hall, as well as several tournaments. An Art Union and street stalls were also organised. The Toowoomba Gun Club arranged a "Clay Bird Shoot" with proceeds going to the Association's Carnival Queen entrant. Attendance at some of the dances etc. was apparently rather disappointing, and the President, Mr. George Murphy, commented that - "we have over 200 members and if all attended these functions our Queen would be on top". (Why aren't there more people playing today, if there were over 200 thirty-odd years ago?) A permit was obtained by the Association to collect "a hundredweight of pennies" during the week of the Carnival.

In May, 1950, the Association's bank balance was £32 ($64). Toowoomba fielded teams for the Queensland Championships held in Brisbane in July, 1950, but there is no record of team members or of any victories, except that Miss R. Roife was selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Championships in Brisbane, "the first time in the history of Toowoomba that a lady had been selected in a Queensland team". I take it that means Table Tennis, and from records at my disposal I cannot discover if, prior to this time, any male member of the Association had ever represented Queensland. Miss Roife and Miss V. Brunner, who also played in the Australian Championships, were each given £2-10-0 ($5) toward their expenses by the Association.

For the 1950 Summer Fixture Season, the affiliation fee jumped up to eight shillings (eighty cents) per team. Entry fees for the Toowoomba Graded Championships held in August, 1950, were four shillings (forty cents) for Mens and Ladies singles, and six shillings (sixty cents) per pair in Mens, Ladies and Mixed Doubles.

The 1950 Banquet cost six shillings (sixty cents) per member of the Association, with that member being entitled to take wife, husband, girl or boyfriend. Thirty gallons of beer were provided by the Association, and once again Mr. George Murphy came to the aid of the Association by providing an extra ten gallons for its thirsty players.

Twenty-three teams registered for the 1950 Summer Fixtures. The Association was once again in a sticky position financially in October, 1950 - having a bank balance of £41-12-11 ($83.29) and outstanding accounts totalling £53-18-8 ($107.88), but by 15th November, 1950 it was again financial to the tune of £34-12-6 ($69.25).

The Association entered a float in the Carnival of Flowers procession in 1950, the float having being designed by Mr. Stan Wright. The float was built at the rear of McKinneys Radio. All of the functions and events held to raise funds for the Association's Queen entrant resulted in £501 ($1002) being collected. When all expenses were paid, a total of £384-5-0 ($768.50) was presented to the Carnival of Flowers Committee. The Association's entrant (Miss Pat Power) came second in the Queen Competition.

On 29th November, 1950, a new Constitution was adopted by the Association.

1951

At the Annual Meeting held on 29th March, 1951, Messrs. J. Roife, G. Murphy and N. Hochruder were re-elected Patron, President and Secretary respectively, whilst Mr. A. Langton was elected Treasurer.

At that Meeting Mr. K. Pullen was elected a Life Member of the Association.

Affiliation fees were increased to ten shillings ($1.00) per team, and the Association once again resolved to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F. Honorariums were the same as the previous year, namely five guineas ($10.50) for the Secretary, and three guineas ($6.30) for the Treasurer.

By 1951, several other Clubs had affiliated with the Association, including South End, R.A.A.F., Commonwealth Bank, Lyrics and Harristown.

The Association had a credit balance of £36-4-6 ($72.45) as at 26th April, 1951. Table fees were increased to six shillings (sixty cents) per team. Thirty-two teams were entered in the 1951 Winter Fixtures - there were still eight ladies' teams.

At this time the Association began holding dances in the Middle Ridge Hall, partly to raise money necessary to send teams to the Queensland Championships which were again to be held in Townsville in 1951. These dances were apparently quite successful, as the Minutes of the meeting on 15th June, 1951 record the delight of those present that door takings for the previous week's dance were £17 ($34), "the best ever", and that the profit for the previous three months was £20 ($40).

A motion was carried at that meeting on 15th June, 1951 that "fixture score sheets be correctly filled in or teams lose their points". The same problem exists today, at times, and the action taken by the Association thirty-one years ago may be worthy of note by Committees these days.

The bank balance of the Association as at 27th June, 1951 was £62-10-4 ($125.04). Even when we consider the number of players belonging to the Association in those days, caking into account that rental for the Showgrounds Pavillion, from 8th May, 1951 to 28th June, 1951 for example, was £16-17-6 ($33.75), the Association must have had a difficult time keeping its head above water financially.

In July, 1951, Johnny Leach (then holder of the World Singles Title) and Michel Haguenauer (French Closed Champion) visited Toowoomba and exhibition matches were staged at the Memorial Hall. Apparently only 25 out of all the players affiliated with the Association attended, and "had it not been for the generous support afforded by the public the Association would have been involved in a much greater financial loss".

Things must have improved for the Association, because by 25th July, 1951 the bank balance had risen to £146-4-2 ($292.42).

No men players were available to go to the 1951 Queensland Championships in Townsville, but a ladies team represented the Association. Miss R. Roife was in the team, but names of other team members are not available. Miss Roife, playing with R. Picking of Brisbane, won the Mixed Doubles Title, and she was once again included in the Queensland Team to compete at the Australian Championships in Adelaide.

The Association once again entered a float in the Carnival of Flowers procession in 1951, and Miss Val Brunner from South End Club was entered by her Club in the Carnival Queen Competition.

The Banquet for 1951 was held in the Hibernian Hall at an admission cost of 7/6d (seventy five cents) per head, with the catering being done by Lambs at 5/6d (fifty-five cents) per head.

There was a drop in the number of teams playing in the 1951 Summer Fixtures, with only fifteen nominating. At the end of 1951 the Association had a credit balance of £150-0-2 ($300.02).

1952

At the 1952 Annual Meeting, on 28th February, Mr. K. Pullen was presented with his Life Membership Badge. It is interesting to note that the cost of this badge was £1-10-0 ($3.00). The badge was made of gold, and approximately two years ago when the Association was having a Life Membership badge made for Mr. Chris Kingston, if made in gold, that badge would have cost in the vicinity of $200.

The Association once again moved to affiliate with the Queensland Table Tennis Federation. Messrs. J. Roife. G. Murphy and N. Hochruder were re-elected Patron, President and Secretary respectively, whilst Mr. W. Hetherington was elected as Treasurer. Honorariums granted at this meeting jumped up to 25 guineas ($52.50) for the Secretary, and 10 guineas ($21.00) for the Treasurer. It was moved and seconded at this meeting, but not carried, that the Secretary be paid for his work at the rate of one pound ($2.00) per week. At the first Delegate meeting following the Annual Meeting, it was agreed to pay the Secretary at the rate of £52 ($104) a year, apparently in lieu of an Honorarium, as he was not granted an Honorarium at the next Annual Meeting.

In May, 1952 a "Learn-to-Play Table Tennis Scheme" was being arranged with the National Fitness Committee, the Association to provide the coaches and with all expenses including advertising and rent to be paid by the National Fitness. Fifty-five players received coaching for a period of six weeks from Mr. Jack Fox and other leading players.

Entry fees for the 1952 Toowoomba Closed Championships were set at four shillings (forty cents) for singles, and six shillings (sixty cents) per pair for doubles, the same as for the previous year. At the meeting on 4th May, 1952 it was decided to purchase "an electric copper" for £17-17-6 ($35.75) for making tea at social games, and this "copper" was later voted to be "the best thing the Association has ever bought".

On 16th July, 1952 the bank balance had risen to £155-8-IQ ($310.89). In that month a visit to Toowoomba was made by Mr. Phil Anderson, for the purpose of coaching players. Mr. Anderson was the first Australian player to defeat Johnny Leach, mentioned earlier in this history as World Champion. Mr. Anderson had many State, Australian and International Titles to his credit when he retired only recently. He had been coaching right up until his retirement.

The Association again made arrangements to enter a float in the Carnival of Flowers procession, "expenses for the float not to exceed £10 ($20.)". A Ladies' Committee was formed to design and decorate the float. (This float won First Prize in the Sporting Section.) It was also proposed that the Association conduct a "Laughing Clowns" street stall during Carnival week, on a 50/50 basis with another person.

The first Carnival of Flowers Championships (graded) were held on 27th September, 1952 with entry fees of four shillings (forty cents) for singles and the same amount per pair for doubles. These Championships must have been very successful, as the bank balance on 16th October reached £276-16-7 ($553.67).

For the 1952 Summer Fixtures, twenty teams, plus ten "Learners" teams were registered.

The 1952 Banquet cost each player 7/6d. (75 cents). Lambs had quoted catering at six shillings per head £2 ($4) for use of upstairs hall", and as the total amount paid to Lambs was £35-12-0 ($71.20) it indicates that 112 persons were catered for. Not a bad Banquet!

The Association finished the year 1952 with a credit balance of £332-16-4 ($665.64). Prospects were certainly looking brighter.

1953

The 1953 Annual Meeting on 25th March, saw Messrs. J. Roife, G. Murphy N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington re-elected to their respective positions. Affiliation fees remained the same as the previous year, namely ten shillings (one dollar) per team.

At this meeting, badges were presented to the South End Ladies "A" Grade team, comprising Miss T. Laughren, Mrs. J. Hetherington, Mrs. R. Ashcroft and Mrs. V. Tame, who had been undefeated as a team since 1940. That must surely be one of the greatest records which could ever be set in any sport. Tess Laughren and Joyce Hetherington had a fine record in doubles also, having never been defeated until 1952. Tess also had ten Toowoomba Singles Titles to her credit. The President's Report for the year 1952 stated "the Ladies Singles Championship was outstanding. Miss R. Roife regained her title from a brilliant exponent. Miss T. Laughren". Joyce had also won the Toowoomba Title. Mrs. V. Tame had, at one time, won the Queensland Junior Championship and was runner-up in an Australian Junior Championship.

The Treasurer, Mr. W. Hetherington, was granted an Honorarium of fifteen guineas ($31.50). The Secretary received no honorarium as he was paid £52 ($104) for his work during the year. There was a suggestion at this meeting that an "A" Reserve Grade be included in the'Winter Fixture Season as the "B" Grade competition had always been lop-sided".

It was at this time that the first reference was made to Zone 5 (now Region 7). Zone 5 included Toowoomba, Crows Nest and Ipswich in those days. A Zone Carnival was arranged for May, 1953 and following that Carnival, teams were to be selected to represent the Zone at the Queensland Championships at Rockhampton. Toowoomba players, Miss R. Roife and Mr. Frank Reich were selected in the Zone 5 teams, and each was given £5 ($10) by the Association towards their expenses.

The Association was financial enough at this stage to open an account with the Toowoomba Permanent Building Society, and £200 ($400) was paid into that account.

Twenty-seven teams were registered for the 1952 Winter Fixtures, including twelve ladies' teams. Playing fees were still two shillings (twenty cents) per player.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second on 2nd June, 1953 even had some effect on Table Tennis players in Toowoomba, as fixtures set down for that date were played the following night instead.

As well as the money invested in the Building Society, the Association had a bank balance of £81-16-7 ($163.67) as at 10th June, 1953.

At the 1953 Toowoomba Championships I have found the first reference to Bernie and Stephanie Weber. Bernie won the Men "C" Grade Singles and Stephanie was one of the winning pair in the Ladies "B" Grade Doubles. Bernie and Stephanie were the son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weber who still take a keen interest in the Association today. Bernie and Stephanie both had magnificent records in table tennis, as you will read later in this history, and it was a great loss to his family, friends and to table tennis, when Bernie was tragically drowned some years ago.

Intercity matches were played in June and July, 1953 between Toowoomba, Crows Nest, Ipswich and Stanthorpe, and resulted in wins for Toowoomba in the Ladies, Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions. This was the first time that a Junior Girls team had been entered from Toowoomba. Stephanie Weber was a member of that team.

A Pittsworth Association raised its head at this time, and four teams from that Association played against Toowoomba on 4th July, 1953.

Rental on the Showgrounds Pavilion had risen to £20 ($40) a month by August, 1953 and yet the Association was more than holding its own, with a bank balance of £91-7-0 ($182.70) as at 5th August, 1953 and by 7th October, 1953 this had increased to £181-5-11 ($362.59). This latter balance had been reached by the profit made on the "Laughing Clowns" street stall which was again conducted during the 1953 Carnival of Flowers.

It was almost decided in early October, 1953 to hold a Social and Buffet Supper instead of the usual Banquet, but that was decided against as "our Banquet was always the best in Toowoomba" according to Mr. George Murphy. The charge for the Banquet was again 7/6d. (75 cents) per member.

Between 7th October and llth November, 1953, the death occurred of Mr. Keith Pullen, one of the Association's Life Members. None of us playing today would have know Mr. Pullen, or, in all probability, would never have heard of him, but, quoting from the Minutes of meeting held on llth November, 1953 - "Mr. Pullen had done great work for the Association and but for his assistance with the supplying of tables our Association would not have been able to start again after the War as the Association had no money and Keith had purchased the tables and painted them". I do not wish to overlook the hard work put into the Association by other people back in the early days, but perhaps we owe our existence today, as an Association, to Mr. Pullen.

1954

At the time of the Annual Meeting on 24th March, 1954 the Association was in a very healthy financial position, with a total of £418-17-4 ($837.74) to its credit. A new Patron, Mr. K. Murdoch, was elected and Messrs. G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were re-elected President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Affiliation fees remained at ten shillings (one dollar) per team, and the Association again agreed to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

The Association, at this time, had 105 registered players. In early 1954, the Australian Table Tennis Association imposed a levy of sixpence (five cents) per player. This was presumably to raise funds for the A.T.T.A., as the exact reason for the levy is not recorded. Playing, or table fees remained at two shillings (twenty cents) per player. Twenty- nine teams registered for the 1954 Winter Fixtures. South Toowoomba Club was the largest club in operation at that time and it entered seven teams in those fixtures.

In May, 1954 the Association took out its first fire insurance cover over its tables and equipment, with the London and Lancashire Insurance Company, at a premium of £1-8-3 ($2.83). In this month the bank account of the Association amounted to £78-15-4 ($157.54) and there was, by this time, £300($600) invested in the Building Society.

In the Toowoomba Championships held in June, 1954, Mr. Rod Blundell won his sixth "A" Grade Singles Title since 1947. Bernie Weber won the Mens "B" Grade Singles. Ray Glynn and Bernie Hochruder won the "A'" Grade Mens' Doubles and Bernie Weber and Brian Kenway won the Mens "B" Grade Doubles. Stephanie Weber won the Ladies "A" Grade Singles in her first season in the top grade.

Stephanie Weber was selected in the Zone 5 Ladies Team to contest the 1954 Queensland Championships in Brisbane. The Association paid her return rail fare of £1-14-0 ($3.40) and presented her with £5 ($10) towards her expenses. Two Toowoomba players received State Rankings from those Championships, namely Mrs. B. Collins No. 7 and Stephanie Weber No. 10. This was the first time that any Toowoomba players gained State Rankings.

By the beginning of July, 1954 rental for the Showgrounds Pavilliion had risen to £18 ($36) per month.

The Carnival of Flowers Committee refused to give the Association a permit to conduct its usual "Laughing Clowns" street stall during the Carnival week. The Executive and Club Delegates were understandably upset about this, as is reported in the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th August, 1954. The Secretary, Mr. Norm Hochruder stated - "We were the first to have the Clowns in Toowoomba and it was not fair to the Association after all the help we have given the Carnival since its inception. We have done more for the Carnival than any other sporting body. We have entered three floats and have given the Carnival £600 ($1200) from our two Queens".

The Association had conducted a Christmas Art Union for some years, with a Christmas Stocking and other prizes to the value of £20 ($40). On 11th August, 1954 it was decided to increase the value of prizes to £50 ($100) which meant, under permit regulations, that they would be able to sell £600 ($1200) worth of tickets.

There were 25 teams registered for Summer Fixtures in 1954 including new teams of Mt. Tyson, Postal Institute, Newtown, Church of Christ and Irongate.

The 1954 Carnival of Flowers Championships attracted record entries, with entries coming from Brisbane, Crows Nest, Glen Aplin (Stanthorpe), Kaimkillenbun, Pittsworth and Southport, as well as from Toowoomba.

Another Learn-to-Play scheme was conducted in conjunction with the National Fitness Committee, and a total of 44 players were enrolled for six weeks coaching by Mr. Jack Fox and other top players. A Championship was held for these players at the end of the coaching period.

The Y.W.C.A. had been conducting a soft drink and sweet stall at the Showground Pavilion whilst fixtures were being played. In October, 1954 they decided to give it up, and the Association then decided they would run the stall themselves.

The cup which was presented to the Men's "A" Grade Premiership winners had been donated by Mr. S.G. Stevens in 1938, and by 1954 there was no room left on it for any more teams' names. It was decided at the meeting on 13th October, 1954 to present this cup to Mr. George Murphy, who had been President of Centrals Club for many years, and Centrals was the Club which had won the cup the most times. This cup was presented to Mr. Murphy at the Banquet. A new "A" Grade Men's Premiership Cup was donated by Mr. B. Hochruder.

The 1954 Banquet was held at the Cafe Alexandra at an admission charge of 7/6d. (75 cents) each. It was decided to have two gallons of soft drink on hand as well as 30 "gallons of ale".

At the Delegate meeting held on 17th November, 1954, Delegates were asked to look around for a block of land suitable for the building of a hall for the Association.

1955

At the Annual Meeting on 3rd March, 1955, it was revealed that the Association had a total credit balance of £556-11-1 ($1113.11).

Mr. N. Hochruder was elected a Life Member of the Association at this Meeting.

Honorariums granted were £52 ($104) for the Secretary and £15 ($30) for the Treasurer. Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were re-elected to their respective positions.

At this meeting, Mr. B. Hochruder moved that a Council be formed to conduct the affairs of the Association instead of Delegates, as not all Clubs sent Delegates to meetings and therefore all Clubs were not involved in making decisions which affected the Association. The general feeling of the meeting was that they were not in favour of any such change, and Mr. Hochruder withdrew the motion.

Mr. B. Hochruder also moved that money invested for the building of a hall be used only for the purchase or building of a hall, and that he would like to see Trustees appointed to ensure this was done. There was apparently nothing in the Constitution to say the Association could not buy land or build a hall, but it was decided to appoint Mr. Greenhow Honorary Solicitor of the Association, and to form a Committee to meet with Mr. Greenhow to ask his advice on altering the Constitution to specifically state that the Association could purchase land etc., and on the appointment of Trustees.

There were thirty-five teams registered for the 1955 Winter Fixture Season, an increase of six over the previous year.

Another Learn-to-Play scheme was held in conjunction with the National Fitness Committee in April, 1955 and 40 learners took part each night for six weeks.

At this time the Association had the amount of £426-8-4 ($852.84) invested with the Toowoomba Permanent Building Society, and £90-8-4 ($180.84) in the bank.

On 15ch June, 1955 a motion was put to the meeting, and carried, that "an admission charge of two shillings (twenty cents) for adults and one shilling (ten cents) for children be made for all championships conducted by the Association". There must have been public support for table tennis in those days.

Entry fees for the Toowoomba Championships in 1955 were four shillings (forty cents) for singles and six shillings (sixty cents) a pair for doubles. As stated in the President's Annual Report for 1955 - "The final of the Men's "A" Grade Singles produced easily the highest standard of play, and the most tense- match ever witnessed in a Toowoomba Championship. The outcome was in doubt right till the final point was played in the fifth game, which was won 22-20. Bernie Weber, who last year won the Men's "B" Grade Title and was runner-up in the Men's "A" Grade in a four game match, defeated title holder Bob Blundell".

Association comprising Zone 5 at this time were Toowoomba, Glen Aplin (Stanthorpe), Crows Nest, Ipswich, Chinchilla, Kaimkillenbun and Pittsworth,

On 6th July, 1955, the Delegates agreed to hold an Art Union, the prize being a Zephyr car, with 2,500 tickets to be sold at one pound ($2.00) each, but at the next meeting it was decided that as the Association would have had to draw money from its Building Society account to put a deposit on the car and have it insured, the matter be left until the Annual Meeting, It was never mentioned again.

At the Queensland Championships held in Townsville in July, 1955, Bernie Weber and Ken Murphy (from Stanthorpe) won the Junior Boys' Doubles and were runners-up in the Mens' Open Doubles. Bernie was ranked No. 5 and was selected as a reserve in the Queensland team to play in the Australian Titles in Melbourne. Stephanie Weber was ranked No. 9 in the Ladies.

Another Christmas Art Union was organised towards the end of 1955 with prizes to the total .value of £40 ($80), the prizes to be :- 1st - Christmas Stocking, 2nd - Canteen of Cutlery; 3rd - a ham, and 4th - an electric jug. One hundred books of five tickets were printed and tickets cost one shilling (ten cents) each.

Thirty-three teams nominated for the 1955 Summer Fixtures. Eleven tables were used for fixtures at this stage.

In September, 1955 it was decided that as Ipswich had been made a separate Zone, a competition should be arranged between Toowoomba, Brisbane and Ipswich for Mens, Ladies, Junior Boys and Junior Girls teams. Mr. Harry Weber said he would donate a shield for this competition.

In that same month the Association had £274-17-0 ($549.70) in the bank, and it was decided to invest a further £13-13-8 ($27.38) in the T.P.B.B.I. Society as this would bring the Association's investment in the Society to £600 ($1200)".

The Carnival of Flowers Championships of 1955 attracted 205 entries from Toowoomba, Brisbane, Chinchilla, Crows Nest, Maclagan, Pittsworth and Southport.

It was also recorded that at the Brisbane Championship that year, Mrs. B. Collins was runner-up to Sherry Irvin in the Ladies Open Singles, Stephanie Weber won the Junior Girls' Singles and Pam Gill won the "B" Grade Singles.

The Banquet held in 1955 was apparently a great success, as catering was done for 145 people. Admission for players was 7/6d. (75 cents) and they were again entitled to take wife or husband, girl or boyfriend. "Forty gallons of ale, ten dozen soft drinks and five gallons of Mynor (cordial)" were provided.

1956

At the time of the 1956 Annual Meeting, the Association had .f 600 ($1200) invested in the Building Society and £217-7-2 ($434.72) in the bank. Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, No. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were all re-elected to their respective positions. Affiliation fees remained at ten shillings (one dollar) per team. Honorariums remained at the same as the previous year, namely £52. ($104) for the Secretary and £15 ($30) for the Treasurer. Mr. Norm Hochruder was presented with his Life Membership Badge at this meeting. It was again agreed that the Association would affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

There were thirty-four teams registered for the 1956 Winter Fixtures. This was the first year in which the Association had a Mens "A" Reserve Grade Fixture. Table fees remained at two shillings (twenty cents) per player.

Mr. Rod Blundell was appointed a National Umpire by the Australian Table Tennis Association in June, 1956.

Bernie Weber was selected in the Queensland Junior Team to contest the 1956 Australian Junior Titles in Melbourne. The Association decided to raised £25 ($50) to donate to Bernie to help with his expenses.

At the 1956 Australian Championships held in Brisbane, Bernie Weber won the Junior Boys' Singles Title, and became the first player from Toowoomba to win an Australian Title.

The 1956 Queensland Championships were held in Brisbane. Three Toowoomba players were State ranked after those Championships, namely Bernie Weber No. 5 in the Mens, Pam Gill No. 7 and Stephanie Weber No. 8 in the Ladies. The Ladies team of Stephanie and Pam from Toowoomba and Leone Murphy from Glen Aplin lost only one match in the Women's Team Competition.

A Junior Girls' Singles event was included in the Toowoomba Championships for 1956 for the first time. The entry fee was two shillings (twenty cents) and Mr. B. Hochruder donated a trophy for that event. Mr. K. Murdoch donated a trophy for the runner-up.

At the meeting held on 25th July, 1956, Mr. K. Murdoch was asked to draw up plans and give a quote for building a hall 120 feet x 40 feet. Mr. Murdoch presented his quote for £2848 ($5696) for a wood-and-fibro building at the following meeting. "A building of chamfer boards would cost ,£182-10-0 ($365) extra".

Towards the end of 1956 the Association was advised that a Constable Booth was having two 3ft.6in. crocodiles brought down from the north and he was prepared to put them on show during the Carnival of Flowers week in aid of the funds of the Association. It was decided to charge one shilling (ten cents) and sixpence (5 cents) for children to see the crocodiles "and we should be able to raise a fair sum of money as there were a lot of people who had never seen a crocodile". Constable Booth was to make containers for the crocodiles and feed them - which no doubt would have been a relief to the Association's Executive and Deleg'ates. Unfortunately, "due to the heavy rain in the north the crocodiles did not arrive". That is a fund-raising venture which the current Committee might like to keep in mind!!

The Carnival of Flowers Championships in 1956 attracted 221 entries, a record which would be very hard to beat these days.

Twenty-nine teams affiliated for the 1956 Summer Fixture season.

At the end of 1956 plans were in hand for acquiring land in Neil Street from the Council, but apparently these fell through.

There was a lengthy discussion at the October, 1956 meeting regarding the Banquet. Some of those present were in favour of holding a social with a buffet supper rather than a Banquet of the usual kind. In 1955 the Banquet had cost the Association £60 ($120) which was a lot of money in those days, particularly when the Association wanted to have its own hall. However, it was decided to hold the Banquet again, at a cost of ten shillings (one dollar) per person admission. It was apparently an "excellent Banquet", and the loss to the Association was only £11 ($22).

A Christmas Art Union was again held in 1956, with prizes and ticket prices the same as the previous one. In November, 1956 a Mr. and Mrs. Morgan donated a cup for the Mens' Reserve Grade Premiership. South Toowoomba Club was the first to win this cup.

Also in November, 1956, the Show Society advised the Association that it could not use the Showgrounds Pavillion for fixtures on two nights as a "ball-punching exhibition" was being held. Apparently during the "ball-punching" someone had broken into the Canteen, but "fortunately the Canteen had been full of empty bottles and one had been taken".

An interesting point in passing, and nothing whatever to do with our Association, is that as at 12th December, 1956 the President of the Ipswich Association was Mr. Ben Hall.

It seems that some time prior to December, 1956 the Brisbane Association had collapsed, because in that month the Q.T.T.F. advised the Toowoomba Association that a move had been made to form the Brisbane Association again.

In December, 1956 it was decided to conduct an Art Union the following February with a Singer Electric Sewing Machine as the prize, tickets to be sold for one shilling (ten cents) each. The sewing machine cost the Association £59-16-6 ($119.65), less ten percent.

1957

At the Meeting on 21st January, 1957 it is recorded that the Toowoomba City Council had recommended to the Lands Department that the Association be granted land in Water Street for building a hall, but that the Tennis Assn. had made an application for the same piece of land, and the Council had then withdrawn its recommendation. If everything had gone according to plan, we may now have been playing where the tennis courts are on the corner of James and Water Streets.

The Association had a total credit balance of £11130-3-7 ($2260.37) at the time of the Annual Meeting held on 27th March, 1957. Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were all re-elected to their respective positions at this meeting. At this time, the Association apparently still had a chance of being granted the land in Water Street under a lease to the Council. A friend of Mr. George Murphy, a Mr. M.J. Lilley of Brisbane, "had donated 150 stump caps for the Association's Club Room Building". The Association decided to have one hundred interest-free debenture forms printed, apparently for the purpose of having people purchase them, to the value of £20 ($40) each, to raise money for paying back a Bank loan which would have to be obtained initially to pay for building a hall.

Table fees were increased to 2/6d. (twenty-five cents) per player in April, 1957. At this time also, there is a Minute giving the Secretary permission to apply to the Railway Department for the lease of land in James Street "opposite the tennis courts".

Thirty-four teams were again registered for 1957 Winter Fixtures, including eleven Ladies' teams. It was decided to include a Junior Boys Singles event in the 1957 Toowoomba Championships. It w.as also moved and carried, at the meeting held on 19th June, 1957 that in the Toowoomba Championships, Mens and Ladies "A" Grade, and Mens Reserve Grade be played as best-of-five games, with all other events best-of-three.

The Railway Department agreed to lease its land in James Street to the Association, but then the Council would not grant permission, but "we could build on Council land next to the Railway land".

Ron McLucas, from Toowoomba, was selected to Captain the Queensland Junior Team to play in the 1957 Australian Junior Carnival held in Melbourne in conjunction with the Victorian Championships. The Association paid his return bus fare.

In the Queensland Championships held in Rockhampton in July, 1957, Bernie Weber was seeded No. 1 in the Mens' Open Singles - the first time that a Toowoomba player had been seeded at No. 1. Titles won, or shared, by Toowoomba players at those Championships were:- Mixed Open Doubles (Bernie and Stephanie Weber), Junior Boys Singles (Bernie Weber), Junior Boys Doubles (Bernie Weber and G. Arrowsmith of Brisbane), Junior Girls Doubles (Melody Spies and Leone Murphy of Glen Aplin). Add to these the Womens Open Singles title won by Leone Murphy of Glen Aplin, and Zone 5 players took out five of nine possible Queensland Championship titles. Bernie Weber was ranked No. 5 in the Mens for the third consecutive year, Stephanie Weber No. 4, Iris Grice No. 7 and Melody Spies No. 10 in the Womens. Leone Murphy ranked No. 1, and she and Stephanie Weber were selected in the Queensland team to contest the Australian Championships in Adelaide.

For the 1957 Summer Fixture Season, 36 teams were registered.

The first mention of land in Herries Street occurred in the Minutes of the meeting held on 18th September, 1957. The purchase price of the land was £400 ($800). The land did not go back as far as the Association had wished, but it was decided that "if we took 30ft. off the back of the building and put it on the side we would have a very nice building".

On 11th October, 1957, the official New Zealand Women's Team comprising Margaret Hoar (New Zealand and Australian Open Champion), June Magorian and Barbara Packwood played exhibition matches in Groom Park Hall. According to the written record, they, "played exhibition matches here to the poorest crowd on record. The attendance was little, if any, short of an insult to our visitors and a disgrace to the Association".

A Special General Meeting was held on 16th October, 1957 to alter the Association's Constitution and elect Trustees to enable the Association to purchase land and build its hall. Messrs. G. Murphy, J. Hamilton and B. Hochruder were elected as the Association's Trustees.

In December, 1957, the National Bank granted a loan to the Association on the Guarantee of Messrs. G. Murphy, J. Hamilton, B. Hochruder, K. Murdoch, F. Bowler and G. Butler. Mr. K. Murdoch had even been prepared to mortgage his own home to assist the Association, but it was actually Mr. George Murphy who mortgaged his home as security to the Bank for the loan granted to the Association.

1958

By 22nd January, 1958 all the post holes had been drilled, and Mr. K. Murdoch agreed to build the hall on a "Cost-Plus Basis as this was the only way it could be worked using volunteer labour". Mr. Harry Weber had designed the hall, and he and some other members of the Association helped with the building of it.

On 29th January, 1958, "The Toowoomba Table Tennis Association Ladies Auxiliary" was formed to raise money for the Association.

The 1958 Annual Meeting was held on 14th March, when the Association had a total credit balance of £1196-7-6 ($2392.75). This was after paying the £400 ($800) for its land. Work had commenced on the hall at this stage. Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were once again re-elected to their Executive positions.

Mr. Bernie Hochruder was elected a Life Member of the Association.

A total of 38 teams registered for Winter Fixtures in 1958, an increase of five over the previous year.

On 7th June, 1958, after many years of planning and very hard work, the Association's Clubrooms were officially opened by the late Alderman M.J.R. Anderson, M.L.A. The hall cost £3561-14-4 ($7123.44), plus extras including Bank Interest.

At the 1958 Queensland Championships, the Zone 5 Ladies Team of Stephanie Weber, Iris Grice and Leone Murphy (Glen Aplin) won the Women's Teams Competition for the first time. Bernie Weber again won the Junior Boys Singles title. Glen Aplin player Leone Murphy won all the Womens and Junior Girls titles, including the Junior Girls Doubles in which she was partnered by Jill Stanaway (our own Jill Whisson). Four Toowoomba players received State Rankings, namely Bernie Weber No. 7 in the Men, and Stephanie Weber (4), Iris Grice (7) and Pat Rynne (8) in the Women. A gold wrist-watch had been donated to the Association by P.G. Heuer, Jeweller, and in July, 1958 it was decided to raffle the watch and have 1000 tickets printed, tickets to be one shilling (ten cents) each. Mr. K. Gleeson donated an 8-day clock to the Association for the Clubrooms, and Messrs. Norm and Bernie Hochruder donated a public address system.

It was decided that for the 1958 Toowoomba Championships, all matches would be the best of three games, except for the semi-finals and finals of the Mens and Ladies "A" Grade, which would be best-of-five.

Diggers Club did a lot to assist the Association in those days. That Club was the first to donate £10 ($20) towards the Association's Building Fund, and this gave other Clubs the incentive to follow their example. Diggers also arranged the permit for another Art Union with a sewing machine as the prize, and their players helped to make that Art Union the success it was.

Forty-one teams were registered for the Summer season .in 1958 with eight Ladies teams. This was an increase of five teams over the previous year.

The Annual Banquet was held in the Holy Name Hall in November, 1958 the cost of the hall being £5 ($10). Catering was done by a Mrs. Wallace for "7/6d. (75 cents) plus soft drinks", and the players were charged ten shillings (one dollar) each admission. Ninety-two tickets were sold. At the meeting on 17th December, 1958, the Chairman, Mr. Murphy, said he "thought it was our best Banquet" but he had "never seen so many broken glasses".

In December, 1958, Diggers Club requested, and were granted, permission to use three tables in the Hall each Monday night for twelve months at a fee of ten shillings (one dollar) per night.

1959

A Learn-to-Play scheme was started in Febraury, 1959, and 60 learners---43 girls and 17 boys attended.

Also in February, 1959, Stephanie Weber left for an overseas trip. Whilst away she was to play in the World Championships in Germany and in the English Open Championships.

At the time of the Annual Meeting on 12th March, 1959, the Association's bank overdraft had been reduced by £500 ($1000), and it had a credit bank balance of £191-0-1 ($382.01). Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were all re-elected unopposed. Honorariums were the same as for the previous year, namely £52 ($104) for the Secretary and £15 ($30) for the Treasurer. The Association once again moved to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

Fifty-three teams were registered for the 1959 Winter Fixture season, which was an increase of thirteen over the previous year. There were thirteen teams of Ladies.

Mr. Norm Hochruder was elected a Life Member of the Q.T.T.F. in about May, 1959.

Also in May, 1959, the Association ordered six new tables from City Joiners at a total cost of £95-1-3 ($190.13).

The Toowoomba Association held the Queensland Championships for the first time in July, 1959. The Zone 5 Ladies Team won the Women's Teams Competition for the second time. There is no record of Toowoomba players receiving State Rankings, but Bernie Weber and Pam Gill were selected in the Queensland Teams to play at the Australian Championships in Perth. Ross Miller (now Alderman Ross Miller) was selected in the Queensland Junior Team to play in Sydney. The Association made a profit of £. 3-10-t^. ($7.04) on the Championships.

The cement path at the front of the Hall was laid. in September, 1959.

There were 42 teams registered for Summer Fixtures in 1959.

The 1959 Banquet was again held in the Holy Name Hall. The charge to players was once again ten shillings (one dollar). It was then that the Association decided the Banquet should be held on the last Saturday in November each year. It has been held then, whenever possible, ever since.

1960

Early in 1960 Mr. Rod Blundell left Toowoomba to take up a position in Brisbane. Mr. Blundell had been Toowoomba "A" Grade Mens Champion many times, and Mr. George Murphy said that he "had been a good worker for the Association over a number of years, and the success of table tennis in Toowoomba was due to his very fine radio and press publicity, also as a Selector and player". Mr. Blundell had begun playing fixtures in 1933.

The Association had a credit bank balance of £275-10-5 ($551.05) at the time of the Annual Meeting on 17th March, 1960. It was, of course, busy paying off the bank debt on the Hall, and there was a separate bank account in the names of the three Trustees for that purpose.

At this meeting, Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were once again re-elected to their positions. Affiliation fees were still ten shillings (one dollar) per team. The Association again agreed to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

Fourteen ladies teams were included in the 41 teams registered for the 1960 Winter Fixtures.

In May and June, 1960, the matter of forming a Council to conduct the affairs of the Association, instead of Delegates from the Clubs, was again discussed, but nothing was finalised.

At the meeting held on 27th July, 1960, Mr. Ross Miller said he thought the Association was big enough to have its own badge, and he submitted designs for a badge. He obtained prices for having badges made - 6/4d. (64 cents) for 100, 3/9d. (38 cents) for 200 to 500, plus Sales Tax. A die for this badge would have cost £50 ($100) and as the Association was paying-off the Hall, it was decided that this was too expensive. This matter was not brought up again for many years.

The 1960 Queensland Championships were held in Brisbane, and the Zone 5 Women's Team won the teams competition for the third consecutive year. Bernie Weber and Iris Grice were selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Championships in Melbourne. Bernie was ranked No. 5 in the Men and Iris No. 3 in the Women, the first lady player from Toowoomba to receive such a high ranking. At the conference of Zone representatives held during those Queensland Championships, it was decided to form all Zones into Regions. Toowoomba, with Wynnum, became Region 4, although it was still referred to in the Minutes as Zone 5 for some time afterwards.

A dance was held at Meringandan by the Association in August, 1960 to raise funds to assist Bernie Weber and Iris Grice with their travelling expenses to Melbourne. The dance showed a profit of £6 ($12) and a raffle held at the dance yielded £28 ($56), a total of £34 ($68).

There was a total of 25 teams registered for the 1960 Summer Fixture season, which was 17 fewer than the previous year.

In November, 1960 (Toowoomba's Centenary Year) the Association held Centenary Championships. At these Championships, Pam Gill and Merv Murray won their first open singles cities. The Association entered two floats in the Toowoomba Centenary procession. These were organised by Mrs. Mavis Young.

Since the Ladies Auxiliary was formed in January, 1958, the Ladies had raised and donated to the Association amounts of £50 ($100) in June, 1958 a further £50 between June, 1958 and 12th March, 1959, £51 ($102) in May, 1959 for painting timber and iron parts of the Hall exterior, and £50 ($100) in October/November, 1960. They also donated £50 in about July, 1961 and a further £50 in July, 1962. The ladies had obviously worked very hard to raise what amounted to a lot of money during the time the Auxiliary was in existence.

1961

By the time the Annual Meeting was held on 8th March, 1961, the Association's bank overdraft had been reduced to £800 ($1600). Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were yet again re-elected to their respective positions. The Association once again moved to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

At the above Annual Meeting Mr. J. Hamilton was elected a Life Member of the Association. It was said at that meeting -"John Hamilton's work for the Association and his love for the game are to be seen in the Association having its own Hall".

A very lengthy discussion took place at this meeting regarding the Banquet. The 1960 Banquet had cost the Association about £100 ($200) and some members were in favour of doing away with the Banquet and holding a Social and Dance, but instead it was agreed to charge one pound (two dollars) admission to the Banquet in 1961. This was later amended at a Special General Meeting held to discuss the Banquet.

Honorariums were still £52 ($104) for the Secretary and £15($30) for the Treasurer.

There were 33 teams registered for Summer Fixtures in 1961, six down on the 1960 season.

At the Queensland Championships in Townsville in July, 1961, the Zone 5 Womens' Team won the Teams Competition once again - for the fourth year in succession. Bernie Weber and Iris Grice won the Mixed Doubles Title. Bernie was ranked No. 4 in the Men, and Iris No. 4 and Pam Gill No. 9 in the Womens. Iris and Bernie were selected for the Queensland Team to play in the Australian Championships in Adelaide.

There was a drop of five teams playing in the 1961 Summer Fixtures, with twenty teams being registered.

On 13th September, 1961, a Special General Meeting was held to discuss all aspects of the Banquet. This meeting rescinded the motion passed at the Annual Meeting that admission to the Banquet be one pound (two dollars), and decided to charge 12/6d. ($1.25). The quote from Weis's for catering at 10/6d. ($1.05) per head was accepted, and it was agreed to purchase 30 gallons of beer, with twenty to be given free at the Banquet and the remaining ten to be sold. It was also agreed that the Association "purchase one bottle of Rum and one bottle of Whisky for the Banquet". The Banquet was held at "Laguna" for the first time in 1961.

Another Learn-to-Play scheme was conducted in 1961, and 45 people attended the coaching classes, a few of whom continued on to play fixtures.

1962

At the Annual Meeting held on 7th March, 1962, Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy, N. Hochruder and W. Hetherington were again re-elected to their positions of Patron, President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Honorariums remained at £52 ($104) and £15 ($30). At this meeting. Centrals Club applied for, and was granted, permission to use three tables at the Hall on Monday nights for practice. In Centrals' early days, they used to practice in Mr. George Murphy's Barbers Shop, which used to be where Bradys Menswear shop is today. Members from Diggers Club were already practicing in the the Hall on Monday nights.

In March, 1962, Centrals Club was given permission to have a glass case installed on the north-west corner of the Hall in which to display trophies won by that Club.

A total of 34 teams affiliated for the 1962 Winter Fixture Season, including twelve teams of ladies.

In March, 1962, a Mr. A. Ferdinand quoted £15($30) for mowing the grass at the Hall. His quote was accepted.

The Ladies Auxiliary was given permission in June, 1962 to use the Hall on Friday nights to hold "Wogs Parties".

Toowoomba players Bernie Weber, Geoff Satori, Iris Grice and Pam Gill were selected to represent Zone 5 at the Queensland Championships in Brisbane in July, 1962. Bernie was again ranked No. 5 in the Mens, and Iris No. 5 and Pam No. 9 in the Ladies. Bernie and Iris were both selected in the teams to represent Queensland at the Australian Championships in Hobart.

Twenty-six teams took part in the 1962 Summer Fixtures, six more than the previous year, and the Association again held its Christmas Stocking Art Union in 1962. This Art Union showed a profit of £162 ($324).

As at 16th November, 1962 only £300 ($600) remained owing to the Bank on the loan for the Hall. The final payment was made in January or February, 1963. It was a magnificent achievement on the part of!those concerned for the Association to have been able to pay-off the building, which cost £5000 ($10,000) in only four years.

1963

The President of the Ladies Auxiliary advised at the Annual Meeting on 13th March, 1963 that the Auxiliary had disbanded. Mr. George Murphy said he was "very sorry that the Ladies Auxiliary had disbanded. They have done a wonderful job for the Association, and without their help the Hall would never have been paid off.

At this meeting, Messrs. K. Murdoch, G. Murphy and N. Hochruder were again re-elected to their respective positions. Miss Pam Gill became the new Treasurer when Mr. Bill Hetherington declined nomination. Bill had been Treasurer of the Association for eleven years.

Once again the Association agreed to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F. and Honorariums remained at £52 ($104) for the Secretary and £15 ($30) for the Treasurer.

For many years the Weber Shield matches had been played between Toowoomba and Brisbane. At the 1963 Annual Meeting it was decided to invite Ipswich to take part in this competition.

Table fees remained at 2/6d. (25 cents) per player for 1963. Forty-two teams were registered for Winter Fixtures that year. These included fourteen women's teams.

At the request of the Show Society, the Association had an entrant in the 1963 Show Princess Competition, this entrant being Miss Lilian Taylor. Mr. Murphy said "Miss Taylor had been a very worthy representative and the Association had received a lot of publicity".

A Special General Meeting was held on 26th April, 1963 to discuss the matter of the Association being controlled by a Management Committee rather than by Delegates, and to alter the Constitution accordingly. It was agreed that the Management Committee comprise President, Patron, Vice Presidents, Life Members, Secretary and Treasurer, and that a Club with a minimum of two affiliated teams, but not more than three, would be entitled to have one member on the Committee, and a Club with four or more affiliated teams would be entitled to have two members on the Committee.

At the above Special General Meeting, the Constitution was also altered to shown that the colours of the Association would be "dark blue", and in May, 1963, "20 nautical- blue shirts" were purchased, at a cost of £1-5-0 ($2.50) each, for Toowoomba representative players. '

The first Management Committee was held on 17th May, 1963.

A competition for a design for an Association Representative Pocket was held and 21 entries were received. The winning design was submitted by Miss T. Laughren.

The Queensland Championships were held in Rockhampton in July, 1963. Iris Grice won the Queensland Ladies Open Singles title, the first time a Toowoomba player, man or woman, had won a Queensland Open Championship. Geoff Sartori won the Junior Boys Singles and Doubles titles. Iris was ranked No. 1 (another first for Toowoomba) and Pam Gill No. 5. Iris and Pam were both selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Title in Sydney, Iris being appointed Captain of the Women's Team (yet another first for Toowoomba).

There were twenty-eight teams playing in the 1963 Summer Fixture season.

The 1963 Banquet was again held at "Laguna" at an admission charge of 12/6d. ($1.25). Hiring "Laguna" for the night cost the Association £13-10-0 ($7.00).

1964

The 1964 Annual Meeting was held on 19th March. Messrs. K. Murdoch and G. Murphy and Miss P. Gill were re-elected Patron, President and Treasurer respectively. After fifteen years as Secretary, Mr. Norm Hochruder did not seek re-election, and Mr. Bernie Weber was elected the new Secretary.

At this time, the Association had a credit balance of £242 ($484).

At this meeting Mr. W. Hetherington was elected a Life Member of the Association. Mr. B. Hochruder said that "Mr. Hetherington had been the Association's Treasurer for eleven years and had done a very good job during the hard years of paying-off our Hall".

Also at the 1964 Annual Meeting, Diggers Club was granted permission to use three tables for practice on Friday nights, instead of Monday nights.

Two Toowoomba Juniors, Geoff Sartori and Peter Jeffrey, were selected in the Queensland Junior Boys Team to participate in the All States Junior Carnival in Adelaide in May, 1964.

Table fees were increased to three shillings (thirty cents) per player in April, 1964. Twenty-six teams were registered for Winter Fixtures that year, including eleven Ladies' teams.

The Association held a farewell party for Bernie and Norm Hochruder, who were going on an overseas tour, at the Gowrie Road Hotel on 13th May, 1964. They were presented with a camera by the Association.

The Queensland Championships were held in Toowoomba in July, 1964. This was the second time these Championships had been conducted by the Association, and a record number of entries were received. The Zone 5 Women's Team of Leone Murphy, Pam Dolley and Stephanie Jones and Joy Bretz of Crows Nest regained the shield which it had lost to Brisbane two years previously. Leone Murphy won the Ladies Open Singles, and Geoff Sartori retained the Junior Boys Singles and Doubles Titles which he had won in 1963. Bernie Weber was ranked No. 4 and Geoff Sartori No. 8 in the Mens; Leone Murphy was ranked No. 1 and Pam Dolley No. 4 in the Womens. Bernie, Leone and Pam were all selected in the Queensland teams to play in the Australian Championships in Perth.

The Association made a profit of approximately £19-8-4 ($38.84) on the Queensland Championships.

Only 18 teams were registered to contest the 1964 Summer Fixtures.

The 1964 Banquet was again held at "Laguna", and a four-piece band, "The Internationals", was booked for the evening for £6 ($12). The Banquet attracted 110 players and guests.

Another Learn-to-play scheme was conducted by the Association, and 56 learners attended for coaching.

1965

At the 1965 Annual Meeting held on 18th March, Messrs. K. Murdoch and G. Murphy and Mrs. P. Dolley (Gill) were again re-elected Patron, President and Treasurer respectively, and Mr. N. Hochruder was elected Secretary. Honorariums remained the same as in previous years. The Association again affiliated with the Q.T.T.F.

Thirty-one teams were registered for the Winter Fixture season in 1965, five up on the previous year.

The Association once again had an entrant in the 1965 Show Princess Competition, but, as reported - "The Association had not received any publicity from the Competition. We had wasted £15. The Competition had been badly organised. The girls were towed around the Ring on a cattle trailer and it was a disgrace and an insult to the girls".

On 28th April, 1965 a Special Meeting was called to elect a new President, Vice President and Secretary, as Messrs. G. Murphy and N. and B. Hochruder were resigning. This meeting did not result in any new officials being elected to the relevant positions.

A further Special Meeting was held on 19th May, 1965 for the same purpose. Mr. Stan Wright was elected as Vice President and Mr. Roy Moate as Secretary. No new President was elected.

The Queensland Championships for 1965 were held in Cairns, but unfortunately I can find no record of team members or of any results from these Championships,or, indeed, for several years after 1965.

"Laguna" was again the venue for the Banquet in 1965, and admission was one pound (two dollars). There was a drop in the quantity of liquid refreshments purchased, and only twenty gallons were "given away free". Terry Johnston's band was booked for this occasion at a cost of £8 ($16).

1966

The 1966 Annual Meeting was held on 24th February. Up until this time the Toowoomba Chronicle always published the President's Report exactly as he had written it, but it is recorded in the Minutes of this Annual Meeting that "most members were upset by the way the President's Report was made so brief by the Toowoomba Newspaper Co.". It was later recorded that the Chronicle had been contacted regarding this,, and the Association's representative was told that "due to the small number of spectators who followed the game, the Chronicle thinks it gives sufficient space to the T.T.T.A.". Perhaps it was at this time that the Chronicle began doing such strange things to the Association's notes etc.

At this meeting Mr. G. Murphy was elected Patron, Mr. W. Hetherington - President (a position to which he had been elected mid-way through 1965), and Mrs. P. Dolley - Treasurer. A new Secretary was not elected at this meeting.

It was moved, and carried, at this meeting that "each Club would be allotted a month during which they would be responsible for the cleaning etc. of the Hall". This system was carried on for many years.

The Association was once again affiliated with the Q.T.T.F. in 1966, and it was agreed that from this time, "A" Grade Ladies would be allowed to play in the Mens "A" Grade fixture competition.

Mr. H. Weber was elected a Life Member of the Association at the above Annual Meeting, when it was said of him -"The' tremendous amount of work in designing and building the Hall is appreciated by all. Without Mr. Weber this would have been a much harder and more difficult task. Assisting in the canteen, donation of the Weber Shield, and numerous other works performed by Mr. H. Weber will always be remembered".

At the Management Committee Meeting held on 22nd March, 1966, Mr. Roy Moate was re-appointed Secretary and Miss Ruth Vaschina was elected Assistant Secretary. The Association had a credit balance of $680.59 at this time.

Thirty-three teams were registered for Winter Fixtures in 1966.

In May, 1966 the matter arose of having a ceiling put in the Hall and having fluorescent lighting installed. I can remember playing in the Hall when there was no ceiling, just rafters, and if there was very heavy rain, or hail, the noise was deafening.

At the same time it was decided that owners of vehicles who took players competing in intercity matches be reimbursed at the following rates: Brisbane and return $1.00 per player, Ipswich - seventy-five cents, Warwick and nearer - fifty cents.

In July, 1966 the Committee was advised that a Mr. J. Briese was willing to mow the lawn for $4 a month, but apparently that did not work out, as Mr. Eddie Nielsen took over that responsibility a few months later.

At this meeting also, the Committee agreed to accept the affiliation of the United Churches Table Tennis Association, Dalby, into Zone 5.

Table fees were increased to forty cents per player in mid-1966.

By August, 1966 quotes had been received for fitting a ceiling in the Hall and for removing the old lights and fitting new fluorescent lighting. The total cost amounted to approximately $2000, and a bank loan of $1500 was obtained to help pay for the work. The small air vents were installed in the ceiling in July, 1967.

The small stove, which is in the Hall kitchen at present, was purchased for $10 in about September, 1966.

The 1966 Banquet was held at "Laguna" once again, at a total cost to the Association of $270.70. Admission was $2.00 per person.

1967

At the Annual Meeting held on 22nd February, 1967, Messrs. G. Murphy and W. Hetherington, Mrs. P. Dolley and Miss R. Vaschina were re-elected to their respective positions, and Mr. C. Kingston was elected as the new Secretary of the Association. Once again, the Association affiliated with the Q.T.T.F.

As at 22nd March, 1967 the Association had a credit balance of $842.72, Messrs. Chris Kingston and Col Walker took over the lawnmowing for 1967 at a cost of $80 for the year.

The 1967 Queensland Championships were conducted in Rockhampton, and the only Zone 5 team contesting the Championships comprised F. Reich (Captain), C. Kingston and D. Kuhnemann.

In August, 1967 the Association nominated Mrs. Stephanie Jones in the Sportsman (or Woman) of the year contest.

Twenty teams were registered for the 1967 Summer season.

The 1967 Banquet was again held at Laguna, and a three-piece band was hired at $2 per hour each.

The price of balls had risen to eighteen cents each by August, 1967, and the Association decided that as practice balls were not always returned to the canteen on fixture nights, balls would be available to players at five cents for a used one, and twenty cents new.

1968

The Annual Meeting for 1968 was held on 28th February. At this meeting Diggers Club was given permission to change its Club night to Wednesdays. Centrals Club still held its practice on Mondays, and South Toowoomba Club was still practicing in Groom Park Hall.

When the Financial Report was presented at this meeting, Mr. N. Hochruder said that "the Association was in a wonderful position and Pam (Dolley) had done an excellent job".

Messrs. G. Murphy, W. Hetherington and C. Kingston, Miss R. Vaschina and Mrs. P. Dolley were all re-elected to their positions. Once again the Association affiliated with the Q.T.T.F.

At this meeting it was decided that in future, rather than have Clubs enter their own fixture teams, as they had done until then, a list of financial members who wished to play fixtures be submitted by the Clubs to the Association, and that two members from each Club form a Grading Committee to select fixture teams.

A Learn-to-Play scheme was conducted early in 1968, and thirteen of the learners went on to play in the Winter Fixtures. Mrs. Jill Whisson was the official Coach during this scheme.

Twenty-six teams took part in the Winter Fixtures in 1968. All teams were mixed that season, and there were no separate Mens and Ladies Competitions. Table fees remained at forty cents. The price of a used ball jumped up to ten cents.

In May, 1968, the Association decided to affiliate with the National Fitness Council for the year as, if it did, the N.F.C. "would try to obtain films on Table Tennis, or hire a coach to improve the standard of our players". Mr. R. Ryan offered to attend the monthly meeting of the Council.

The matter of having a new floor built was first discussed in May, 1968. This is something which had cropped up every so often ever since. Quotes were received for a new floor ($1650) and for repairing the old floor with cypress flooring ($85). The latter quote was accepted.

The Queensland Championships for 1968 were held in Ipswich.

Eighteen teams were registered to play in the 1968 Summer Fixture season.

On 29th August, 1968, an Open Graded Tournament was played with all entry fees being donated to the Senior Citizens Welfare Association to assist in the building of their new centre.

Another Learn-to-Play Scheme was commenced on Sunday, 6th October, 1968 and ran for four weeks. An average of twenty players attended each week.

The 1968 Banquet was yet again held at "Laguna". Admission remained at $2.00 per person. The cost to the Association of $275.54 was only $5.00 more than for the 1966 Banquet.

1969

In January, 1969, South Toowoomba Club asked permission to hold its practice nights in the Association Hall rather than at Groom Park Hall. They were granted three tables on a Monday night, and commenced joint practice with Centrals Club shortly afterwards.

At the Annual Meeting held on 13th March, 1969, Mr. H. Weber was elected Patron, Mr. W. Hetherington - President, Mr. C. Kingston - Secretary, Miss R. Vaschina - Assistant Secretary and Mrs. P. Dolley- Treasurer.

The Association once again agreed to affiliate with the Q.T.T.F.

At the above Annual Meeting, Centenary Heights High School was granted free use of the Hall on Wednesday afternoons. The school had between 40 and 50 students interested in playing table tennis, and they were to be under the control of Mr. Ron McLucas. It was envisaged that if the scheme was successful, it could lead to an inter-school competition in the future. Students from Centenary Heights still use the Hall on Wednesday afternoons.

Toowoomba City Council Rates were $54.42 per half year as at 10th April, 1969, compared with $212.79 as at 27th January, 1982.

The Association had a credit balance of $906.69 on 10th April, 1969. There were 26 teams registered in the 1969 Winter Fixtures, including ten ladies' teams of two-a-side.

In April, 1969 the Association had a plan for extending the Hall by 14 feet. As parts of the Hall were already on land owned by the Toowoomba City Council, the Association would have needed the Council's approval to obtain the extra land. However, nothing seems to have eventuated, at that time, in this regard.

The first Zone 5 Meeting for many years was held on 19th April, 1969, with representatives from Dalby, Crows Nest, Warwick and Toowoomba attending. The meeting was held to discuss inter-city matches, after which matches the Selectors would choose players to represent Zone 5 at the Queensland Championships in Townsville.

Entry fees for the Toowoomba Closed Championships were set at forty cents for singles and eighty cents per pair for doubles.

The 1969 Banquet was again held at "Laguna", but for the first time, the meal was changed to a smorgasbord. Admission was still two dollars per person.

1970

The 1970 Annual Meeting was held on 10th March, when the Association had a credit balance of $1589.69. Honorariums were still the same as they had been for many years, namely $104 for the Secretary and $30 for the Treasurer. The lawnmowing at this stage was being done by C. Kingston and K. Pollard for $100 a year.

At this meeting Mr. C. Patrick was elected Patron, Mr. Hetherington - President, Mr. C. Kingston - Secretary, Miss R. Vaschina - Assistant Secretary and Mrs. P. Dolley - Treasurer.

The Association again affiliated with the Q.T.T.F. for 1970, and Registration fees were set at $1.00 per player.

A Notice of Motion was put to this meeting that "all players, for the purpose of fixtures only, come under the control of the T.T.T.A., but that the Clubs retain their identity". It was felt at the time that this would lead to a better fixture competition as teams would be more evenly matched. Over the years since then this has proved to be so.

The Association, at that time, was conducting raffles at the Union Hotel, and at the above Annual Meeting those involved in this work asked for more help from others. This is an appeal which has been made down through the years, and it is unfortunate that many players have not understood how vital this form of fund raising has been, and still is, to the Association.

There were twenty-three teams registered for the 1970 Winter Fixtures.

In April, 1970 the Committee once again discussed having the Hall extended, this time by 20 feet. Mr. S. Wright drew up plans which showed that an extension of 26 feet would be required to allow sufficient playing area between each table. The Toowoomba City Council refused to give its permission for this to be done.

As at 29th June, 1970 the Association had a total credit balance of almost $2400.

The Queensland Championships in 1970 were held in Southport, and apart from knowing that four Toowoomba players were selected in the Zone 5 teams, I can find no other records, other than that Mrs. Andrea Strack was selected in the team to represent Queensland at the Australian Titles in Sydney.

At the Management Committee Meeting on 27th July, 1970, Mr. C. Kingston, who had been Zone 5 Delegate at the conference held during the Queensland Championships, advised that the Q.T.T.F. was no longer in existence. An interim Committee had been formed and they were to submit to all Zones an amended Constitution for the formation of a new body called the Queensland Table Tennis Association. The Association has been affiliated with the Q.T.T.A. ever since.

Mr. K. Pollard was the Association's representative for the 1970 "Sportsman of the Year" Award.

The Banquet in 1970 was again held at "Laguna", and Kev Ward's Band was hired for the night. Admission was still $2.00 per person.

1971

At the Annual Meeting held on 4th February, 1971, Messrs. C. Patrick, W. Hetherington and C. Kingston were re-elected Patron, President and Secretary respectively. Mrs. P. Dolley was elected Assistant Secretary and Miss A. Lewis was elected Treasurer. The Honorariums were increased to $120 for the Secretary and $35 for the Treasurer. At the time of this meeting the Association had a total credit balance of $3056.83.

On 24th March, 1971, Mr. C. Kingston advised that it had been decided to form an Inter-city Competition, to be named "South Queensland Teams Competition", comprising two divisions of Seniors and Juniors, between Associations in Southern Queensland. The Weber Shield was to be discontinued in its existing form, but would still remain the trophy for the winners of the Mens "A" Grade Division. The original format of two Senior and two Junior Divisions was later changed, and the competition now comprises divisions in Mens and Ladies Open, Mens and Ladies "A Reserve", Under-18 Boys and Girls, and Under-16 Boys and Girls. Our Association donated the trophy for the Ladies "A Reserve" competition.

Eight Toowoomba players were selected to represent Region 7 (which Zone 5 had now become) at the 1971 Queensland Titles in Mackay.

In July, 1971 Harristown High School was given permission for its students to use the Hall, free of charge, on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

Eighteen teams took part in the Summer Fixture season in 1971.

A Special Meeting was held on 31st August, 1971 for the purpose of discussing interior alterations to the Hall. A Plan was submitted by Mr. S. Wright for a six table set-up, and everyone present was in favour of his plan. A Works Committee comprising Messrs. S. Wright, T. Humberdross, V. Stephenson and J. Thurecht and Mrs. A. Strack, was elected at this meeting to work out "the most suitable way of perfecting the alterations". The efforts of this Committee can be seen in the present layout of the Hall. The alterations to the Hall were carried out Mr. K. S. Goodall at a total cost of $2408.91.

The 1971 Banquet was held at "Laguna" and Mr. Kev Ward's Band again played on that occasion. Admission rose to $2.50 per head.

1972

As the Association was to hold the 1972 Queensland Championships, there was some discussion, during November, 1971, on acquiring new tables, but it was decided, in January, 1972 to have the old tables reconditioned by Hodge & Sons. The tables had weathered many, many years of play, and were great to play on. They were still in service for several more years after they were reconditioned in 1972.

At the Annual Meeting held on 22nd February, 1972 all Office Bearers were re-elected to their respective positions.

It was at this meeting that the Q.T.T.A. Silver Circle Tickets were first mentioned. This is a Raffle conducted State-wide by the Q.T.T.A to raise funds to assist in sending Queensland Teams to the National Titles. One thousand tickets are distributed to the various Associations each year, for the Associations to sell at $10 each. It must be placed on record, that over the years Toowoomba's best ticket seller, without a doubt, has been Mr. Ted Hawkins who, in one year alone, sold between thirty and forty of these tickets.

Honorariums granted at the 1972 Annual Meeting remained at $120 for the Secretary and $35 for the Treasurer.

At this meeting, Rule 20 of the T.T.T.A. Constitution was altered to read as follows:- "Any player registered in fixtures may compete twice for all teams in a higher grade. Also a player registered as a reserve may compete twice for all teams in his own grade, and twice for all teams in a higher grade. Once having played three times for a team, a player becomes part of that team and shall not play in a lower grade without formal permission from the Committee".

Registration and Affiliation fees set at that meeting were $2.00 and sixty cents respectively for the year.

Messrs. T. Humberdross and D. Schiewe, who were Toowoomba's only State Umpires, were chosen as referee and Deputy Referee for the 1972 Queensland Championships. Mr. T. Humberdross was also a State Examiner for the Umpire's Examination.

At the time of the above Annual Meeting, the Association had a credit balance of $4242.48, but shortly after that time the large account for the Hall alterations was paid.

In March, 1972 table fees were set at forty cents for Seniors and twenty cents for Juniors still attending school.

The Welcoming Function for the 1972 Queensland Championships was held at "Laguna", with Kev Ward's Band again supplying the music. The Championships were apparently quite successful, even though the Association showed a deficit of $280 on the week. This was thought to be "a reasonable loss, considering the cost involved in bringing the Queensland Champions and Selectors to Toowoomba". However, the elected Social Committee comprising Messrs. C. Walker and T. Humberdross, and Misses R. Vaschina and A. Lewis, made a profit of $168 on the week.

1973

The 1973 Annual Meeting was held on 13th March. Mr. C. Patrick was again elected Patron, Mr. W. Hetherington - President, Miss V. Jahnke - Secretary, Mrs. P. Dolley - Assistant Secretary and Miss A. Lewis - Treasurer. The Honorariums for the Secretary remained at $120 but that for the Treasurer was increased to $40.

At this time Mt. Lofty High School applied for, and was given permission, for the use of the Hall by its students.

The credit balance of the Association at this time was $2230.08.

In July, 1973, table fees were increased to sixty cents for Seniors and thirty cents for Juniors attending school.

Once again, the Banquet was held at Laguna in 1973. The cost of catering had risen to such an extent that admission was increased to $3.50 per person. Mr. Kev Ward's Band was again hired for the occasion.

1974

In January, 1974 it was decided to have a cabinet with glass doors built in the canteen in which to display table tennis equipment. The cupboard was built by Mr. Col Reimers.

At the 1974 Annual Meeting held on 26th February, all Office-Bearers were re-elected. Honorariums for the Secretary and Treasurer remained the same at $120 and $40 respectively.

A quote for $84 was received from Mr. Mark Wittmack for lawnmowing in 1974. This was accepted by the Association.

Registration fees remained at $2.00, but affiliation fees were increased to seventy-five cents for 1974.

On 27th November, 1974 the Association's credit balance had risen to $3005.48.

Mr. Kev Ward's Band was again hired for the Banquet in 1974, which was again held at "Laguna". The admission charge rose to $5 per person.

The "Regional Titles", which were are held on the Australia Day long weekend in January, were first mentioned in the Minutes of the meeting held on 27th November, 1974. These Titles had obviously been held previously under a different name (I think the South West Queensland Championships) as it was moved at the above meeting to increase the entry fees to $1.00 for Open events, eighty for Special events, and sixty cents for Juniors.

1975

A Notice of Motion was presented and passed at a Special Meeting held on 18th February, 1975, reading as follows: "That the general management committee of the Association comprise as follows: Patron, President, two Vice Presidents, Life Members, Secretary, Treasurer and six members of the Association".

At the Annual Meeting held on 18th February, 1975, Mr. C. Patrick was elected Patron, Mr. C. Kingston - President, Mr. B. Sorensen - Secretary, Mrs. R. Webb - Assistant Secretary and Miss A. Lewis - Treasurer. A Committee of six members of the Association was elected at this Annual Meeting for the first time. The credit balance of the Association at this time was $1582.99. Registration and Affiliation fees were increased to $5 for Seniors and $3 for Juniors. Honorariums remained at $120 for the Secretary and $40 for the Treasurer.

Table fees were increased, in late February, 1975 to eighty cents for Seniors and forty cents for Juniors attending school.

In March, 1975 a Committee comprising Messrs. C. Kingston, E. Ghee and Miss A. Lewis was formed to bring the Association's Constitution up to date. This is the Constitution in use at the present time.

On 30th July, 1975, the matter of an Association badge was once again discussed, and a competition run to select a design for the badge was won by Miss A. Lewis.

Banquets at this time were still held at "Laguna", and the admission charge to the 1975 Banquet was $5 per person. No free beer was supplied at that Banquet.

In November, 1975, the Association decided that as other Associations were giving prize money for Open Singles events at their Regional Championships, Toowoomba would do the same, commencing at the Toowoomba Regional Championships in January, 1976. It was decided that for the Mens Open Singles the prize money would be $40 for the winner, $20 for the runnerup and $5 for each of the losing semi-finalists, whilst in the Ladies, the winner would receive $20 and the runner-up $10.

1976

The 1976 Annual Meeting was held on 24th February. Mr. C. Patrick was re-elected Patron and Mr. C. Kingston was re-elected President. Mrs. A. Strack was elected Secretary and Mr. D. Schull was elected Treasurer.

At this meeting it was moved that Registration and Affiliation fees for Seniors be $10 and for Juniors $5 for the year. It was also moved that a family of three or more players would be entitled to a twenty percent discount on those fees.

Honorariums remained at $120 for the Secretary and $40 for the Treasurer. The Association's credit balance at the time of this meeting was $2472.71.

Centenary Heights High, Harristown High and Mt. Lofty High. Schools were still using the Hall on Wednesday afternoons, and it was decided in March, 1976 to charge the schools $2 each for the afternoon. Private hire of a table was $1.50 and of the whole Hall $8. Centrals, Diggers and South Toowoomba Clubs were still in operation at this time, and they were charged $1.50 per club per night.

At the end of March, 1976, the credit balance of the Association had risen to $3228.53, and by 28th April, 1976 to $3731.44. Social fund raising at hotels was mainly responsible for the Association being in such a healthy financial situation, and this would not have been possible but for the very few willing helpers who raffled each week. Table Tennis in Toowoomba would not be such a cheap sport but for those people, as all fees would have had to be increased enormously without their help. The same still applies today.

Summer Fixtures in 1976 were a three-a-side competition, with all players individually handicapped.

Diggers Club disbanded in about September, 1976, after many years in operation.

SC. Mary's Christian Brothers College was given permission, in September, 1976 to use the Hall on Thursday afternoons, under the supervision of Mr. P. Butler-White.

The 1976 Carnival of Flowers Championships were a great success, and the Association made a profit of $246 on the weekend.

The Banquet in 1976 was held at the Range Motel, with admission prices being $7.00 and $6.00 for Juniors under fourteen years. All liquid refreshments were supplied by the Association.

1977

At the time of the Annual Meeting on 17th February, 1977, the Association's credit balance had jumped to $5260.97. Honorariums were doubled to $240 for the Secretary and $80 for the Treasurer.

Miss T. Laughren was elected Patron at this meeting, Mr. C. Kingston - President, Mrs. A. Strack - Secretary, Mrs. J. Austen - Assistant Secretary and Mr. D. Schull - Treasurer.

Registration and Affiliation fees were set at $10 for Seniors and $5 for Juniors, but players were entitled to pay $6 for the first half year and $4 for the second, and Juniors half fees for each half year. This was allowed because some players may not have been able to play in both fixture seasons.

A scheme was implemented at this Annual Meeting whereby the Captains of Fixture Teams were to be responsible for the cleaning-up of their particular playing area each night, and teams playing on Table 1 were to cleanup around the seating area. This system has worked fairly well ever since, and it has taken quite a lot of work off the Secretary's shoulders.

At the end of February, 1977, Club Fees were increased to $2 per night, and $10 for hiring the Hall for Championships. Private Hire of the Hall was increased to $10 per night. The cost to Schools was to be $4 an afternoon, and table fees remained at eighty cents for Seniors and forty cents for Juniors. Reimbursement of travelling costs to intercity matches was doubled, and became $2.00 per player to Brisbane, $1.50 to Ipswich and $1.00 to Warwick and Crows Nest.

After a lapse of many years, it was decided to include Junior Boys and Girls Singles in the Toowoomba Closed Championships in 1977. It was also decided that, in addition to the special shirts to be given to Singles Winners in all grades, medallions, suitably engraved, would be presented to them at the Banquet.

Early in 1977 there was a discussion on obtaining new tables, but it was later decided to have the old one "re-buffed, reinforced and repainted". This work was carried out by Downs Joinery and Mr. Les Magarry, in April, 1977, at a total cost of almost $600. By that month, the Association's credit balance had climbed to over $6000.

A concrete drive-in over the gutter at the front of the Hall was installed by the Toowoomba City Council, at no cost to the Association, in May, 1977,

At a Regional meeting held at Crows Nest in June, 1977, between delegates from Toowoomba, Warwick and Crows Nest, it was decided to have Region 7 representative shirts embroidered "South West Queensland - Region 7".

The Association made a nett profit of $370 from the canteen and entry fees at the 1977 Carnival of Flowers Championships.

The 1977 Banquet was again held at the Range Motel, with the admission charge being $8. The cost of the smorgasbord meal that year was $7 per head.

1978

The 1978 Annual Meeting was held on 14th February, when the Association had a credit balance in excess of $5500. Honorariums were increased to $280 for the Secretary and $100 for the Treasurer.

At that meeting, Mr. C. Kingston was elected Patron, Mr. R. Hill - President, Mr. R. Walker - Secretary and Mr. B. Sorensen - Treasurer.

Only four Committee members were elected at that meeting, and the other two were elected at a Special Meeting held on 23rd February, 1978.

Registration and affiliation fees set at the 1978 Annual Meeting were $10 for Seniors and $5 for Juniors.

All hiring charges and table fees in 1978 remained the same as in 1977.

In March, 1978, the Association gave its approval for the Bundaberg Association to join Region 7.

The credit balance of the Association as at 26th April, 1978 was over $7400, and by 29th May was almost $7900.

On 26th June, 1978 the Committee decided to purchase six new tables from International Table Tennis Pty. Ltd. At this time also it was decided to have a new floor put down. Quotes had been received, the lowest of which was $2300, but it was later decided not to go ahead with this. The new tables were acquired in September or October, 1978 at a cost of $1416.00.

The Range Motel was again the venue for the Banquet in 1978, with the admission charge being increased to $10 for adults and $6.50 for school students. The cost of the smorgasbord meal had risen to $7.50.

1979

Prize-money for the 1979 Regional Championships was increased to $50 for the Mens Open Singles winner, with $20 to the runner-up and $5 to each of the losing semi-finalists. The Women's Open Singles winner received $30 and the runner-up $10.

At the Annual Meeting held on 13th February, 1979, Mr. C. Kingston was re-elected Patron, Mr. E. Ghee - President, Mrs. A. Strack - Secretary and Mr. D. Schull - Treasurer.

Registration and affiliation fees were set at $12 for seniors and $6 for Juniors, and Cable fees at $1.00 for seniors and fifty cents for juniors.

Mr. C. Kingston was elected a Life Member of the Association at that meeting. Mr. Kingston had been Secretary of the Association fox six years between 1967 and 1972, a Vice-President for two years after that, President for three years from 1975 until 1977, and has been patron from 1978 until the present time. He is also a Trustee of the Association.

On 21st February, 1979 the Association's credit balance was just over $5100. Club fees were increased to $3 per night, whilst private hire was increased to $2 per table, $15 per night or $30 for a day and night. Hire of the Hall by schools was increased to $8.50.

The 1979 Queensland Closed Championships were held in Toowoomba. The Welcoming Function was held at the City Golf Club's Clubhouse and it was a huge success. The State Opposition Leader, Mr. Ed Casey, who was also Patron of the Q.T.T.A., attended the evening and also presented the trophies on Finals Night. Before the Championships were held the Association went to considerable expense in providing better playing conditions, including the installation of additional bearers under the floor, new partition nets and cords, curtains and cushions on some of the seating area. Mrs. Andrea Strack successfully retained her No. 3 State Ranking at chose Championships, and was selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Championships in Adelaide.

A new system of scoring was introduced for both Winter and Summer fixtures in 1979. Points were awarded to both winning and losing teams (3 for the winner and 1 for the loser) plus point-one of a point for each rubber won. This system of scoring has applied ever since, and in some fixture seasons winners have been "first past the post" and in others the leading four teams at the end of the season play-off to decide the eventual winner.

Toowoomba T-shirts were first acquired in July, 1979, the design on them having been drawn by Mr. Paul Cortenbach.

As the opening function of the Queensland Closed Championships at the City Golf Club had proved such an outstanding success, it was decided to hold the 1979 Banquet there also. The last three Banquets have been held there, and all have been exceptionally good nights.

1980

Prize money for the January, 1980 Regional Championships remained the same as for the previous year.

A Learn-to-Play scheme was held in January, 1980, as it had been for some years before then, and 32 youngsters took part. Several of them went on to play in Junior Fixtures in 1980.

The 1980 Annual Meeting was held on 12th February. Honorariums were increased to $300 for the Secretary and $150 for the Treasurer. Messrs. C. Kingston, E. Ghee and D. Schull and Mrs. A. Strack were all re-elected to their positions.

Registration and Affiliation fees were set at $12 for Seniors and $6 for Juniors. Table fees on fixture nights were set at $1.20 for everyone, but for Junior Fixture nights the fee was fifty cents.

The Association had a credit balance of just over $4000 as at 26th February, 1980.

A Ladies' Group began playing in the Hall, on Thursday mornings, early in 1980. They are still playing, and at this present time are playing their own Fixture competition.

As Mr. B. Hochruder had submitted his resignation as a Trustee of the Association at the Annual Meeting in February, Mr. C. Kingston was elected, at that meeting, to take Mr. Hochruder's place. It was decided that if the two remaining original Trustees did not wish to continue in their position as Trustees, a Special Meeting be called later in 1980 to elect new Trustees. This Special Meeting was held on 3rd April, and resulted in Messrs. C. Kingston, C. Johnson and E. Ghee being elected as the Association's new Trustees.

The Association was advised by the Toowoomba Chronicle in April, 1980, that its notes would be published in the 'Downs Star' only. Since then, notes, if they have been published at all, have been either in the Downs Star, or in the Chronicle", and are sometimes very hard to find. It is a great pity that the Toowoomba Newspaper Co. is not a little more sympathetic in its dealings with smaller sporting associations in Toowoomba.

Early in 1980, Miss Margaret Johnson was selected in the Queensland Sub-Junior Team to contest the National Sub-Junior titles in Geelong.

In June, 1980, the Committee decided to have an "Honour Board" installed in the office, and to have names of all Toowoomba Singles Champions since 1970 printed on it.

The 1980 Queensland Championships were held in Cairns, and both Mrs. A. Strack and Mrs. J. Whisson were rewarded with State Rankings. Mrs. Strack was again selected in the State team to contest the National Titles, but was unable to take her place in the team.

For the first time, a Spring Fixture Season was held in 1980. The original plan had been for business houses around Toowoomba to enter teams in this competition, but, unfortunately, no interest was shown by any of them, and it was just the usual fixture players who took part in it.

Andrea Strack and Jill Whisson won the Ladies Open Doubles title at the 1980 Queensland Open Championships.

1981

Prize money for the 1981 Regional titles was increased to $75 for the Mens Open Singles winner, $35 for the runner-up; $50 to the winner of the Ladies Open Singles and $25 to the runner-up, with $15 to all of the losing semi-finalists.

Mrs. Strack was elected Secretary of the Queensland Table Tennis Association early in 1981, a position which she still holds.

On 17th March, 1981 the Annual Meeting was held. The Honorarium for the Secretary was increased to $350, whilst that for the Treasurer remained at $150.

At this meeting, Mr. C. Kingston was again elected Patron and Mr. E. Ghee was re-elected President. Mrs. A. Ghee was elected Secretary and Miss J.Newton was elected Treasurer.

Registration and affiliation fees were increased to $15 and $7.50 for Seniors and Juniors respectively. Table fees remained unchanged at $1.20 for everyone and fifty cents for Junior Fixtures.

The Association was to conduct the 1981 Sub-Junior Trials in March that year, but because other Associations were very lax in submitting names of their Juniors by the specified date, those trials were not held. However, the Trials were conducted by the Association at the end of March, 1982, and were an outstanding success. Under-15 and under-17 Boys and Girls divisions were played on a round-robin basis, and with the enormous number of games which had to be played over the weekend, the present Committee is to be congratulated on conducting the Trials so efficiently.

Rather than conduct the usual type of "Learn-to-Play" scheme, the 1981 Committee decided to institute a new scheme for coaching new Juniors each Friday night during School Semesters. Mr. Danny Schull was the official coach, and with able assistance of Mrs. Andrea Strack and Mrs. Jill Whisson, he did a marvellous job with the average of 25 juniors who turned up every week. Apart from coaching, tournaments were held for the youngsters, and they were shown films of some of the World's best players in action. Video equipment was hired for one night which further helped with the coaching. This scheme is still in operation, and with the help of Danny, Andrea and Jill, many of these Juniors could become great players.

On 22nd April, 1981, the Association's credit balance stood at just over $6000.

In May, 1981, the Association entered a team in the Lion's Sports Day held at the Showgrounds. The team of Warren Reithmuller, Kurt Kaiser, Colin Gilbert and George Cannon performed creditably, and George gave a fine performance in the 5km. race, in which he finished 5th from 47 starters.

In 1981, Margaret Johnson was again selected in the Queensland Under 17 Girls Team to play at the Australian Junior Championships in Hobart.

The Association was advised in June, 1981, that Chinchilla was now part of Region 7.

At the Queensland Closed Titles held at Wynnum in July, 1981, Jill Whisson and Andrea Strack reached the final of the Ladies Doubles, and Jill, playing with Barry Hare of Rockhampton, reached the final of the Mixed Doubles. Jill and Andrea again received State Rankings, with Andrea No. 4 and Jill No. 8.

Towards the end of 1981, Mr. Danny Schull, Mrs. Andrea Strack and Mrs. Jill Whisson took part in a coaching course, conducted in conjunction with the T.A.F.E. and all three are now Nationally Accredited Coaches.

In December, 1981, the Association helped to run the Table Tennis section of the Amputees' National Sporting Titles. These titles took the form of a Mini-Olympics, and Mr. George Cannon was the Association's representative at the Opening Ceremony which was held at Downlands College on 6th December, 1981. It was a great privilege for the Association to be involved with those marvellous sportsmen and women.

1982

The 1982 Annual Meeting was held on 17th February, and Hororariums remained at $350 for the Secretary and $150 for the Treasurer. Mr. C. Kingston was re-elected Patron, Mrs. J. Whisson was elected President, Mrs. A. Strack - Secretary and Miss J. Newton - Treasurer.

Registration and affiliation fees for 1982 remained the same as in 1981, but table fees were increased to $1.50.

The new Committee has recently purchased a "ball machine" which will be of great benefit to players.

Over the years many Toowoomba players have won countless Titles at Championships held by other Associations, and unfortunately it has not been possible to record all of their successes. Toowoomba has always had, and still has, great players, players of which the rest of the Association should be very proud.

The Association is in a very sound financial position, but this has not just "happened". It has been built-up over fifty years, and has taken more hard work than many people who belong, or have belonged to the Association over the years realise.

In writing this History of the Association, I have come to realise the tremendous effort and the amount of love which our early players and the people who ran the Association put into it. We would probably not be playing today, and almost certainly would not have our own Hall, if they had not "hung in there" time and time again when the Association struck financial icebergs and almost sank. I am far more appreciative of what has been done in the past for our Association now that I have had the privilege of writing this History.

As I said at the outset, it was not possible to write down everything which has happened in and to the Association over the last 50 years simply by working on the available records, but I hope that you have enjoyed reading this History of the Association as much as I have enjoyed writing

Office bearers

Year	Patron	President	Vice-President	Secretary	Assistant	Treasurer
1940	S.G. Stephens	D. Thompson	L.G. Perry/G.A. McKenzie	J. Deuble	-	S. Hensler
1941	S.G. Stephens	D. Thompson	G.A. McKenzie/G. Murphy	J. Deuble	-	S. Hensler
-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1946	D. Thompson	G. Murphy	L. Perry/Mr. Leeds	J. Watts	-	N. McDonald
1948	D. Thompson	G. Murphy	N. Hochruder/R. McFarlane	J. Hornick	-	A. Langton
1949	D. Thompson	G. Murphy	J. Rolfe/R. McFarlane	N. Hochruder	-	A. Langton
1950	J. Rolfe	G. Murphy	R. McFarlane/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	S. Mackay
1951	J. Rolfe	G. Murphy	R. McFarlane/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	A. Langton
1952	J. Rolfe	G. Murphy	G. Mann/S. Wright	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1953	J. Rolfe	G. Murphy	S. Wright/W. Davis	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1954	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	W. Davis/V. Barrow	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1955	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/S. Wright	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1956	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1957	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1958	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1959	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1960	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1961	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1962	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	W. Hetherington
1963	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	Miss P. Gill
1964	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	B. Weber	-	Miss P. Gill
3/1965	K. Murdoch	G. Murphy	H. Weber/B. Hochruder	N. Hochruder	-	Mrs P. Dolley
5/1965	K. Murdoch	W. Hetherington	H. Weber/S. Wright	R. Moate	-	Mrs P. Dolley

Year	Patron	President	Vice-President	Secretary	Assistant	Treasurer
1966	G. Murphy	W. Hetherington	H. Weber/S. Wright	R. Moate	Miss R. Vaschina	Mrs P. Dolley
1967	G. Murphy	W. Hetherington	S. Wright/R. Moate	C. Kingston	Miss R. Vaschina	Mrs P. Dolley
1968	G. Murphy	W. Hetherington	S. Wright/H. Miller	C. Kingston	Miss R. Vaschina	Mrs P. Dolley
1969	H. Weber	W. Hetherington	N. Young/R. McLucas	C. Kingston	Miss R. Vaschina	Mrs P. Dolley
1970	C. Patrick	W. Hetherington	V. Stephenson/J. Thurecht	C. Kingston	Miss R. Vaschina	Mrs P. Dolley
1971	C. Patrick	W. Hetherington	V. Stephenson/J. Thurecht	C. Kingston	Mrs P. Dolley	Miss A. Lewis
1972	C. Patrick	W. Hetherington	V. Stephenson/J. Thurecht	C. Kingston	Mrs P. Dolley	Miss A. Lewis
1973	C. Patrick	W. Hetherington	C. Kingston/J. Thurecht	Miss V. Jahnke	Mrs P. Dolley	Miss A. Lewis
1974	C. Patrick	W. Hetherington	C. Kingston/J. Thurecht	Miss V. Jahnke	Mrs P. Dolley	Miss A. Lewis
1975	C. Patrick	C. Kingston	E. Ghee/T. Hawkins	B. Sorensen	Mrs R. Weber	Miss A. Lewis
1976	C. Patrick	C. Kingston	E. Ghee/K. Ward	Mrs A. Strack	-	D. Schull
1977	Miss T. Laughren	C. Kingston	C. Johnson/D. Fowers	Mrs A. Strack	Miss J. Austen	D. Schull
1978	C. Kingston	R. Hill	C. Johnson/D. Fowers	R. Walker	-	B. Sorensen
1979	C. Kingston	E. Ghee	R. Elwood/D. Fowers	Mrs A. Strack	-	D. Schull
1980	C. Kingston	E. Ghee	R. Elwood/D. Fowers	Mrs A. Strack	-	D. Schull
1981	C. Kingston	E. Ghee	R. Elwood/Mrs J. Whisson	Mrs A. Ghee	-	Mrs J. Newton
1982	C. Kingston	Mrs J. Whisson	D. Schull/G. Scarborough	Mrs A. Strack	-	Mrs J. Newton

Toowoomba open champions

Year	Mens open	Ladies open	Mens open doubles	Ladies open doubles	Mixed open doubles
1949	R. Blundell	R. Rolfe	E. Brunner/C. Whewell	T. Laughren/J. Hetherington	-
1950	R. Blundell	R. Rolfe	R. Blundell/J. Fox	-	-
1951	R. Blundell	T. Laughren	R. Blundell/J. Fox	T. Laughren/J. Hetherington	-
1952	K. Stephson	R. Rolfe	R. Blundell/J. Fox	V. Brenner/S. Stokes	-
1953	K. Stephson	R. Rolfe	R. Blundell/J. Fox	T. Laughren/J. Hetherington	-
1954	R. Blundell	S. Weber	R. Glynn/B. Hochruder	F. Jorgensen/G. Shears	-
1955	B. Weber	T. Laughren	R. Blundell/B. Weber	T. Laughren/J. Hetherington	-
1956	B. Weber	S. Weber	B. Weber/B. Hochruder	-	-
1957	B. Weber	P. Rynne	R. Blundell/R. Glynn	S. Weber/M. Spies	-
1958	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/F. Reich	S. Weber/M. Spies	-
1959	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/F. Reich	S. Weber/M. Spies	-
1960	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/R. Miller	P. Gill/I. Grice	B. Weber/S. Weber
1961	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/R. Miller	P. Gill/I. Grice	M. Murray/I. Grice
1962	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/R. Miller	P. Gill/I. Grice	B. Weber/P. Vigar
1963	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/R. Miller	S. Jones/B. Tennant	B. Weber/S. Jones
1964	B. Weber	S. Jones	B. Weber/R. Miller	-	B. Weber/S. Jones
1965	B. Weber	I. Grice	B. Weber/F. Reich	I. Grice/P. Dolley	B. Weber/S. Jones
1966	H. Miller	S. Jones	F. Reich/K. Pollard	S. Jones/R. Williams	K. Billard/S. Suley
1967	S. Wright	S. Jones	K. Grice/H. Miller	I. Grice/P. Dolley	K. Grice/I. Grice

Year	Mens open	Ladies open	Mens open doubles	Ladies open doubles	Mixed open doubles
1968	K. Pollard	S. Jones	K. Pollard/F. Reich	I. Grice/P. Dolley	K. Pollard/I. Grice
1969	K. Pollard	E. Keller	K. Pollard/F. Reich	S. Jones/A. Strack	C. Kingston/A. Strack
1970	K. Pollard	S. Jones	C. Kingston/D. Kuhnemann	A. Strack/R. Webb	K. Pollard/S. Jones
1971	C. Kingston	A. Strack	K. Pollard/F. Reich	A. Strack/M. Hellawell	K. Pollard/T. Laughren
1972	C. Kingston	P. Dolley	C. Kingston/D. Schull	-	C. Kingston/A. Strack
1973	D. Schull	I. Grice	R. McLucas/K. Pollard	A. Strack/M. Hellawell	D. Schull/P. Fitzpatrick
1974	C. Kingston	A. Strack	D. Schull/C. Kingston	A. Strack/V. Jahnke	C. Kingston/A. Strack
1975	D. Schull	A. Strack	D. Schull/C. Kingston	A. Lewis/S. Blain	C. Kingston/A. Strack
1976	D. Schull	A. Strack	D. Schull/C. Kingston	A. Strack/V. Jahnke	C. Kingston/A. Strack
1977	D. Schull	A. Strack	W. Bradford/R. Hill	A. Strack/J. Whisson	D. Schull/A. Strack
1978	D. Schull	A. Strack	D. Schull/C. Kingston	A. Strack/J. Whisson	D. Schull/A. Strack
1979	D. Schull	J. Whisson	D. Schull/I. Reimers	A. Strack/J. Whisson	D. Schull/A. Strack
1980	D. Schull	A. Strack	D. Schull/I. Reimers	A. Strack/J. Whisson	P. Priest/J. Whisson
1981	D. Schull	J. Whisson	D. Schull/K. Thompson	A. Strack/J. Whisson	D. Schull/A. Strack
1982	D. Schull	J. Whisson	D. Schull/C. Kingston	combined	D. Schull/A. Strack

Toowoomba grade champions

Year	Mens reserve	Ladies reserve	Mens res doubles	Ladies res doubles	Junior boys	Junior girls
1949	-	-	-	-	-	-
1950	-	-	-	-	-	-
1951	-	-	-	-	-	-
1952	-	-	-	-	-	-
1953	-	-	-	-	-	-
1954	-	-	-	-	-	-
1955	-	-	-	-	-	-
1956	N. Roser	-	N. Roser/W. Young	-	-	-
1957	K. Grice	-	-	-	-	M. Spies
1958	R. Miller	-	R. Miller/M. Murray	-	B. Weber	P. Ryne
1959	R. Miller	-	R. Miller/M. Murray	-	-	-
1960	E. Rusis	-	J. Hamilton/B. Langton	-	-	-
1961	E. Rusis	-	-	-	-	-
1962	J. Whewell	-	J. Whewell/P. Sunners	-	-	-
1963	-	-	-	-	-	-
1964	G. Doran	-	unknown	-	-	-
1965	-	-	-	-	-	-
1966	-	-	-	-	-	-
1967	-	-	-	-	-	-

Year	Mens reserve	Ladies reserve	Mens res doubles	Ladies res doubles	Junior boys	Junior girls
1968	N. Ziebell	D. Rye	N. Ziebell/L. Kruger	A. Lewis/D. Rye	-	-
1969	-	R. Williams	-	T. Laughren/E. Hill	-	-
1970	-	A. Lewis	W. Hellawell/T. Laughren	combined	-	-
1971	W. Hellawell	H. King/L. Kruger	-	-	-	-
1972	B. Steele	combined	C. Reimers/W. Hellawell	combined	-	-
1973	-	-	-	-	-	-
1974	I. Riemers	S. Blain	D. Sturdy/I. Reimers	-	-	-
1975	D. Fowers	J. Fitzpatrick	B. Sorensen/R. Walker	J. & M. Fitzpatrick	-	-
1976	J. Herrick	S. Blain	C. Reimers/C. Hicks	combined	-	-
1977	E. Ghee	A. Ghee	E. & A. Ghee	combined	W. Bradford	J. Fitzpatrick
1978	P. Priest	J. Fitzpatrick	A. Ghee/S. Blain	combined	P. Priest	L. Priest
1979	D. Dowe	J. Fitzpatrick	D. Dowe/L. Pries	combined	D. Dowe	M. Johnson
1980	D. Hirning	J. Fitzpatrick	E. Ghee/C. Reimers	M. Johnson/L. Priest	D. Dowe	M. Johnson
1981	B. McErlean	J. Ward	C. Reimers/W. Hellawell	combined	D. Dowe	L. Reimers
1982	B. Hellawell	A. Ghee	K. O'Sullivan/C. Johnson	combined medley	G. Cannon	L. Priest

Year	Mens B grade	Ladies B grade	Mens B doubles	Ladies B doubles
1949	R. Feil	G. McIntyre	R. Feil/N. Ludgren	G. McIntyre/B. Anderson
1950	K. Stephson	S. Stokan	K. Stephson/D. Nelson	-
1951	C. Tickner	J. Ashcroft	J. Hamilton/N. Young	P. Gray/G. Roser
1952	B. Whitfeld	Mrs Hudspith	B. Whitfield/D. Wain	Mrs Hudspith/S. Murdoch
1953	N. Young	S. Weber	Barron/Egan	-S. Weber/S. Murdoch
1954	B. Weber	-	B. Kenway/B. Weber	-
1955	A. Veritz	Mrs Rynne	S. McKay/H. Dorge	-
1956	U. Rusis	R. Williams	K. & N. Ruhde	Mrs Nicolaus/J. Nicolaus
1957	R. Miller	P. Murdoch	R. Miller/B. Conway	M. & F. Spies
1958	A. Lowe	M. Young	B. Munn/S. Andrews	F. & J. Spies
1959	A. Lowe	M. Young	B. Munn/S. Andrews	F. & J. Spies
1960	R. Moate	M. Young	B. Munn/S. Andrews	A. Roberts/M. Young
1961	N. Osborne	Mrs Hill	K. Ramsay/N. Osborne	-
1962	J. Kirkpatrick	A. Snedden	-	-
1963	J. Patterson	S. Murdoch	W. Hetherington/W. Mahoney	V. Brown/S. Murdoch
1964	unknown	unknown	unknown	unknown
1965	P. Jeffrey	R. Vaschina	K. Houghton/E. Ghee	-
1966	M. Tucker	E. O'Sullivan	D. Curtin/M. Tucker	E. O'sullivan/C. Lindley
1967	G. Cooper	A. Curtis	R. Moate/W. Hetherington	A. Reich/A. Curtis

Year	Mens B grade	Ladies B grade	Mens B doubles	Ladies B doubles
1968	M. Tucker	A. Curtis	W. Hethrington/M. Tucker	A. Reich/A. Curtis
1969	I. Ramsay	S. Blain	T. Bickwell/W. Hellawell	-
1970	D. Schull	P. Fitzpatrick	T. Bickel/W. Hetherington	P. Fitzpatrick/J. Yuide
1971	M. Skelton	-	M. Skelton/R. Bonell	-
1972	S. Blain	combined	V. Jahnke/R. Vaschina	combined
1973	R. Halsall	S. Blain	R. Halsall/B. Goulds	A. Lewis/S. Blain
1974	V. Jahnke	combined	M. & J. Fitzpatrick	combined
1975	V. Jahnke	combined	K. Ward/V. Jahnke	combined
1976	J. Herrick	M. Hellawell	P. Butler-White/R. Vaschina	combined
1977	R. Fitzpatrick	A. Fitzpatrick	B. McErlean/S. Crofton	combined
1978	D. Dowe	combined	D. Dowe/A. Fitzpatrick	combined
1979	J. Gilbert	L. Priest	J. Gilbert/L. MacDonald	combined
1980	L. Ridge	combined	L. Ridge/L. Jones	combined
1981	K. Kaiser	J. Newton	K. Kaiser/J. Newton	combined
1982	K. Neuendorf	L. Reimers	D. & L. MacDonald	combined

Year	Mens C grade	Ladies C grade	Mens C doubles	Ladies C doubles
1949	N. Hochruder	-	H. Hirning/S. Mossetter	-
1950	D. Dall	-	D. Dall/Compton	-
1951	D. Nelson	-	D. Nelson/J. Robertson	-
1952	W. Hetherington	-	N. Hochruder/R. Gibson	-
1953	B. Weber	J. Keenan	Hume/Ely	Keenan/Bein
1954	J. Manson	M. Kenway	L. Peacock/W. Davis	M. Kenway/B. Murdoch
1955	K. Grice	F. Littleton	K. Grice/H. Large	I. Grice/Mrs Fowler
1956	K. Seaniger	P. Murdoch	K. Seaniger/E. Inwood	-
1957	F. O'Donnell	J. Rojahn	F. O'Donnell/L. Kaus	Mrs Hill/J. Rojahn
1958	C. Kratzmann	-	C. Reimers/I. Sperling	-
1959	C. Kratzmann	-	C. Reimers/I. Sperling	-
1960	M. Doran	-	M. Doran/E. Volp	-
1961	H. Cooper	-	G. Bianchi/Keinschmidt	-
1962	D. Kuhnemann	K. Barrett	E. Ghee/H. Waters	V. Cherry/B. Bradley
1963	G. Marshall	B. Neilsen	K. Sarquis/F. Gillam	D. Rye/Y. Adamson
1964	J. Petersen	unknown	unknown	unknown
1965	M. Dolley	J. Cooper	-	-
1966	M. Dolley	-	J. Gray/M. Dolley	-
1967	C. Walker	P. Smith	T. Bickel/I. Murden	P. Smith/M. MacMillan

Year	Mens C grade	Ladies C grade	Mens C doubles	Ladies C doubles
1968	S. Stevenson	M. Schick	-	S. Blain/J. Yuide
1969	C. Reimers	-	H. King/A. French	-
1970	G. Feldman	-	D. Skillington/T. Stephenson	-
1971	B. Steele	-	F. Smith/F. Reich Jr	-
1972	K. Thompson	combined	R. Walker/K. Thompson	combined
1973	J. Fitzpatrick	combined	C. & T. Johnson	combined
1974	G. Newnham	combined	R. Fitzpatrick/L. Collins	combined
1975	T. Johnson	combined	A. Donovan/T. Johnson	combined
1976	B. McErlean	M. Johnson	B. McErlean	combined
1977	-	-	-	-
1978	J. Gilbert	combined	J. Gilbert/G. Sugden	combined
1979	-	-	-	-
1980	-	-	-	-
1981	-	-	-	-
1982	-	-	-	-

Year	Mens D grade	Mens D doubles
1949	-	-
1950	K. Hargens	-
1951	L. Peet	F. Ashcroft/W. Hetherington
1952	B. Cuskely	M. & V. Brunner
1953	-	-
1954	B. Perry	E. Barlow/J. Hoepper
1955	D. Benson	D. Benson/B. White
1956	R. McLucas	E. Inwood/G. Hess
1957	H. Morrison	-
1958	L. Carlsson	-
1959	L. Carlsson	-
1960	J. Ison	N. Dredge/A. Hartwig
1961	-	-
1962	C. Kingston	-
1963	K. Ford	K. Stokes/K. Houston
1964	unknown	unknown
1965	J. Whewell	-
1966	R. Pullinger	C. Walker/E. Nielsen
1967	-	-

Year	Mens D grade	Mens D doubles
1968	-	-
1969	-	-
1970	-	-
1971	-	-
1972	-	-
1973	P. Neuman	P. Neumann/K. Austin
1974	-	-
1975	-	-
1976	-	-
1977	-	-
1978	-	-
1979	-	-
1980	-	-
1981	-	-
1982	-	-