Table Tennis Australia announce 2021 National Volunteer Awards Program recipients

Published Fri 10 Dec 2021

Table Tennis Australia is pleased to announce the recipients of the TTA 2021 National Volunteer Awards Program.

The awards recognise the remarkable achievements of those people making a significant and genuine contribution to the sport.

TTA CEO Scott Houston said volunteers are the lifeblood of table tennis.

"Put simply our great sport would not function without passionate volunteers giving their time," Houston said.

"We know that volunteers don’t give their time to receive public recognition, but TTA believes it’s important to thank those who contribute so much," he added.

TTA congratulates all award winners from the 2021 National Volunteer Awards and special mention to Greg Bungey, who has the honour of being awarded the Bev and Brian James Trophy as the 2021 National Volunteer of the Year.

The National Volunteer Awards will be held again in 2022 and TTA encourages all clubs/associations to put forward nominations.

Check out all the award recipients below.

25 Years of Service to Table Tennis Award

Greg Bungey - Table Tennis South Australia and Adelaide Table Tennis Club (SA)

Greg Bungey has been very active in so many different ways in South Australia's table tennis community. He has such a wide range of skills and abilities, be it in coaching, officiating, administration, tournament management, software configuration, website design and management, club and membership management. Someone who just gives without expectation of acknowledgement or reward.

Pam Clarke - Rockhampton Table Tennis Association (QLD)

Pam has been a member of the Rockhampton Table Tennis Associations Management Committee continuously since 1985, whether it's preparing draws for club and state tournaments, organising trophies or day-to-day management to her weekly coaching of beginner and advanced juniors. She has even coached numerous Rockhampton players who've gone on to become Queensland and Australian representatives, including a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games medallist.

Theo Morsink - Sydney Upper North Shore (SUNS) Table Tennis Association (NSW)

Theo Morsink has operated SUNSTTA as a volunteer for over 28 years. He is the founder and President of SUNS since 1992. While he stepped down as President this year, he continues to be active in various volunteer roles including as a coach, official, administrator, member and, promoter. Theo has had a remarkable impact on table tennis in the community at all levels.

Young Official of the Year Award

Samuel Miller - Table Tennis ACT (ACT)

Sam Miller is a valued member of Table Tennis ACT and brings skills, energy and innovation to continually improve and grow the sport. Sam in his capacity as a Board Member, Volunteer and Official (Tournament Controller, Umpire and Referee), organises and manages all local and state-level tournaments within the ACT. He has continued to improve his qualifications by obtaining his State Referee accreditation and also facilitated a Level 2 (State) Umpires Course to build ACT’s capacity in officiating.

Fran Keyhoe Official of the Year Award

Stephen Gillespie (NSW)

Stephen Gillspie has shown ongoing initiative, leadership and dedication as an official. Not only does he recruit new members to become officials by running courses, he also encourages current members to seek to advance their qualifications to higher levels. His recent work as Deputy Referee at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games has been an inspiration to them and many have expressed a desire to emulate his success.

Club/Association of the Year Award

Table Tennis ACT (ACT)

Table Tennis ACT has demonstrated innovation and enthusiasm to promote table tennis as a sport for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. In 2021, Table Tennis ACT has experimented with a number of new initiatives to encourage new people to come and try and get involved in table tennis while also promting a family friendly and inclusive environement through a number of intiatives.

50 Years of Service to Table Tennis Award

William 'Bill' Oatey OAM - Payneham Table Tennis Academy (SA)

Bill entered the ranks as a player in 1943, and he has continued the association with the game since then as a player, official and coach. Taking up the position of Assistant State Coach, alongside his roles with the women's squads anf junior practice squads,he excelled in the coaching of players between the 1960's and 1980's when he was coaching State players into the Australian and International arena. Bill has continued his association with the sport over the many years and still coaches at his local Club three to four times a week.

Jack Cyngler - Table Tennis Victoria (VIC)

Jack Cyngler has been working hard being on various committees, contributing to the growth and development of table tennis over the last 50 years. The current Chair of Table Tennis Victoria started playing the sport at the age of 11 when he signed up for a competition and since then has gone on to represent his home State on multiple occassions.

Keith Keane - Coburg Table Tennis Club (VIC)

Keith Keane has been involved in table tennis as a player, coach and umpire for over 50 years. He joined the Coburg Table Tennis Club in 1958. It was not to long before he started coaching the juniors and running the junior training sessions. It is the Thursday junior program at Coburg that he has conducted for over 50 years that has given Keith the most pleasure,

Tom Brown - Deloraine Table Tennis League (TAS)

Tom began playing table tennis on board a migrant boat to Australia and then continued to play in the migrant camp in South Australia. After spending over three decades in SA, he moved with his family to Tasmania where in 1992 he became a foundation member of the Deloraine Table Tennis League.

Joy and Tom Boyd OAMs - Kiama Table Tennis Club (NSW)

Joy has played table tennis for 63 years while Tom has been playing over over 70 years. Together they helped establish a Veterans Australian Table Tennis Championship which first took place in Hobart in 1984. Joy has won numerous titles as an able bodied and Para athlete including a Commonwealth Games bronze at Manchester 2002. Tom has made a major contribution to table tennis at all levels. He has championed the value of the sport regardless of age, ability or disability and encouraged older players to take up their bat for fun and
fitness. Joy and Tom also established Kiama Table Tennis Club in 2007.

Read more about Joy and Tom Boyd OAMs life-long love of table tennis here

Administrator of the Year Award

Donna Abbott - Mackay Table Tennis Association (QLD)

Donna Abbott is known as the face of Mackay Table Tennis. A dedicated Treasurer, who for eight years has kept a firm hand on the purse strings, she always willing to lend a hand. Whether is assisting with fundraising activities and arranging local club fixtures to becoming the chief cook during local tournaments. Can't forget that she is also a Level 1 Coach, who leads the Spinneroos initiative as well as going to local schools to encourage children to participate in table tennis.

Bev and Brian James Trophy - National Volunteer of the Year