WELCOME


Welcome to the Gabba Squash Club Site and hopefully it will bring back some great memories of when you played squash at the club. If you enjoyed your trip down memory lane and you are still in touch with any for your former club mates please advise them that the site exists.

A few of the ex members of the Squash Club thought it would be a good idea to set the site up, so past members of both clubs could go into the site and go down memory lane. The site will include some history of both clubs, lists of trophy winners, pennant winners, Office bearers, both team and social photos, and other club records, including the club song, and other items that hopefully will be of interest.

Any feedback, either suggestions of things that could be added or your comments on the site itself, can be forwarded by following the directions on the "Suggestions" page or by leaving comment on the web blog. Links to both of these pages are in the menu at the top of the page.

I hope you all enjoy going through this site, and that it brings back some great memories to you of some of the good times enjoyed in the company of some wonderful people. I got so much enjoyment out of doing this project, especially writing up some profiles on great mates like Peter Prickett, Wally Kwit, Bill Crisp, and Col Brandon Snr. The only sad thing about doing this project was realising how many of our ex club mates that have passed away.

I had a few chuckles when I located the classic poem of Piddling Pete by the one and only Bob McCormick and the story of the club Librarian, and Peter Land's achievement of beating 3 people who either had won an Australian Squash Singles Title or won one later on in their Career.


THANKS


The idea for this website originated in October 2006 at a squash reunion when I consulted Ray Kettley about records of the Boomerang/Gabba Squash Club. He said he had kept all records when he was Captain and had the Gabba Squash Club Hand Book that was printed in 1976.

A big thank you goes to Ray who had the most time consuming job of typing up all the lists. Most records only had initials and no Christian names so between Ray and me, we were able to remember the majority of Christian names. It was a good effort as we were going back some 40 years. Thanks to any member who may have helped come up with some of the names, in particular Sam & Avon Trimble. Ray had access to the Puntimal to get some of the information. I only found out after Ray had completed his mammoth task, that he wasn't a touch typist, which made the task of typing all those pages, even a greater effort.

Doug White & Ray tested their memories when they wrote the history of the Club, Doug the Boomerang Club and Ray the move to the Gabba and the next ten years. Rod Hurst, who was President when the building was demolished, provided the information for the history to be completed. A special thank you to Doug, Ray & Rod who probably had to test the memory banks to compile the stories.

Another big thank you goes out to Frank Brand, who set up the website, and transferred all the photos and the stories and the lists that Ray and myself sent over to him on to the website. I am sure you will all agree that he has done a great job, I liked his idea of using the black background with the gold printing, as most of you would remember were the club colours all those years ago.

Thank you also to Ray Smith who volunteered his time and knowledge if required, Both Ray & Frank may be able to show me how to maintain the site, and also show me how to add any new photos and information and stories we hopefully will receive from ex members. Also thank you to my niece, Paula Smith, who was involved in the early process.

There were a lot of people that sent photos and helped with the writing of the profiles that have been put together. Thanks to all those people and in particular Col & Trevor Brandon, Joan Kwit, Dave Prickett, Margaret Dowser, Cecil McMillan, Des Crabbe, Alan Griffiths, Alan & Diane Eaton, Barry & Margaret McPhee, Bob & Paul Finch, Deslee Mather/Till , John and Pat Stirling, John Green, Ken Fraser, Mike & Helen Hendy, Pat Kane, Warren & Sandra Steel, Tom & Jan Connor, Russell and Jacque McConnell, John O'sulliavan, Mike Shiel, Vince Grisaffi, Joe McKenna, Dave Wright, Barry Hartshorn, Peter Land, Peter Morris, Peter Creevey, Barry Ashby, Alf & Kay Hogan, Sue & Nic Jeffrey

AND

apologies to anyone else who has been a contributor but I have missed.

I want to say it has been a great experience doing this project and renewing old acquaintances and hope those who visit the site enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Joe Williams