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KETTLES
Ray Kettley
Boomerang Gabba Stalwart
Name.
Ray KettleyDOB.
4th October 1945Place of Birth.
Stanthorpe , QueenslandWhere you first started playing Squash.
I was asked to fill in for fixtures in Stanthorpe in 1966. Moved to Brisbane in 1967 and joined Boomerang. Became a member of the C2 team for the 1967/68 Summer Season with Ray Allan, Max Collins, Geoff Gillam and Bob McCormick.
Fondest Memory of the time.
One of the "club drunks" taking drink orders from the players so they could get to the hotel by 10.00pm closing time. Then after fixtures finished meeting with team members and opposition players in the club room (shower & toilet block) for a drink (tallies) and a chat and then moving under the "Yum Yum" trees in Paul's Industries car park after Mrs. White closed for the night. Also the great friendships which were formed and a lot of which are still in place today.
Best achievement on court
Col Brandon Team Incentive Points Trophy
1968/69 Summer Season with Mike Moore, Greg Paul, Wally Kinlyside & Ray Smith.
1971 Winter Season with Joe Williams, Noel Farthing & John Stirling.
Pennant Winning
1967/68 Summer Season C2 with Ray Allan, Max Collins, Geoff Gillam and Bob McCormick.
1971/72 Summer Season A2 with Bob Ford, Max Collins, John Cameron & Noel Farthing.
1973 Winter Season A1 with Ken Fraser, Bob Pareezer & Peter Land.
1975/76 Summer Season A1 at Balmoral with Terry Cheetham, Dave Jackman, Dick Humphries & Tom Tamer.
1977 Winter Season A1 at Balmoral with Terry Cheetham, Dave Jackman, Jim O'Reilly & Barry Stewart.
1986/87 Summer Season A1 South at Bayside with Simon Devine, Manuel Conissis, Mel Kippen and Gary Coghill.
1988 Winter Season A1 South Tuesday at Bayside with David Maloney, Manual Conissis & Gary Coghill
1988/89 Summer Season A1 South Tuesday at Bayside with Manuel Conissis, Gary Coghill, others can not be recalled.
2010 Winter Season A2 South Tuesday at Wynnum West with Mike Gregory, Doug Haigh, Jim O'Reilly, Jon Norris & Chris Hart.
State Team Titles
Townsville 1976 won A grade with Max Collins, Brian King, Peter Land & Nic Jeffrey.
Toowoomba 1977 won A grade with Nic Jeffrey, John Smerdon, Max Collins & John Beck.
Club Championships Division One
1971 Plate Winner
1972 Plate Winner
1975 Winner defeated Bob Ford
1976 Winner defeated Max Collins
1977 Runner up to John Smerdon
1980 Runner up to Ray Strachan
1981 Winner defeated Nic Jeffrey
1982 Winner defeated Peter Arnold
1983 Winner defeated John Hunter
1984 Winner defeated Glenn Trimble
1985 Runner up to Manuel Conissis
Bob Bergin Memorial Handicap Tournament
1970 Runner up to Dave Prickett
1978 Winner defeated Barry Blumke
1979 Winner defeated Bob Dowling
1983 Winner defeated Len Don
Bayside Squash Club
Men's Best Average 1987/88 Summer
Did you venture into administration or coaching or refereeing or managing teams or played Masters Squash?
In 1974 I was elected Secretary of Brisbane Districts Squash Rackets Association and after a short term tendered my resignation due to work commitments in Melbourne.
When Boomerang Club moved to Woolloongabba in 1975 I was elected Club Captain, a position I held until 1985. I was appointed life membership of Boomerang/Gabba Club in 1982 and in the same year was awarded the Bob Turner Memorial Trophy.
I was an active member of the Brisbane Districts Referees Association for a few years and was called on to referee some important matches in that time. I refereed the final of the 1985 Sunnybank Gold Cup between Ken Hiscoe and Cam Nancarrow and had the pleasure of refereeing a final at Kangaroo Point between Heather Mackay and Marion Jackman, it was the only occasion Marion managed to get a game from Heather.
Who do you admire as the person who has either achieved great things on court or shaped the game off court?
Heather Mackay, for her ability to remain on top for such a long period and be so dominant. Joe Williams, for the effort he put in to ensure the success of Boomerang Squash Club. Col Clapper, for his contribution to the administration of squash at many levels. Dave Jackman, for the effort he put in to play squash at the top level and his leadership in a team environment.Funniest moment you remember.
I was refereeing a match at Stafford between Dave Wright and Barry Whitlock and the next thing a brawl erupted on court. Punches were thrown and they eventually wrestled each other to the floor before somebody got on court to separate them. They both were suspended from playing squash for a period of time.
What are you doing now? As a lot of us would be now retired, list some facts about your working life.
At present I volunteer for Meals on Wheels Capalaba. On 4th October 2001 I retired from the workforce after 40 years. Two of my employers were Inghams Enterprises and Lawrence & Hanson. I also had jobs with Nylex Cables and J Blackwood & Sons. The early years of my working life were spent with electrical contractors.
Did you get married, have children?
Yes, I married Barbara Dawson on 13th October 1979 and we were not able to have children.
Anything else you think people might find interesting.
Do you remember in the Summer of 1984/85, ninety five clubs competed under the Brisbane & District Squash Rackets Association. A grade was played on the North and South side of Brisbane while B to I grades competed in North/East, North/West, South/East and South/West divisions. I don't have access to the numbers of teams that were competing then. If my memory serves me correctly, there would have been in excess of 2000 teams plus women competing on Monday & Wednesday nights.
Twenty six years on for the Summer of 2010/11, there are 12 clubs competing under Q Squash Ltd in Brisbane on the North side while 7 clubs compete on the South side. On the North side 86 teams play in grades Premier to C3 on Tuesday and 83 teams compete in grades Premier to C3 on Thursday. On the South side 64 teams play in grades A1 to C1 on Tuesday while 69 teams compete in grades Premier to C1 on Thursday. While 302 teams are competing it must be remembered a lot of members play both Tuesday and Thursday competitions.