Vale Jim Bond

Jim Bond, a long-term and significant contributor to table tennis in Australia and TTA Life Member, passed away on Saturday 15 July 2022, aged 91.

Jim’s first interest in table tennis arose from inter-club activities in Brisbane around 1946. In 1950 Jim was transferred with his employer to various parts of South East Queensland and was instrumental in arousing interest in the sport in such places as Beaudesert, Roma, Charleville and Stanthorpe. In 1955 he persuaded the Postal Institute in Stanthorpe to enter a team in the district fixtures.

In 1964 he was Foundation Secretary of the Cloncurry Methodist Table Tennis Association and this was his first affiliation with the then Queensland Table Tennis Federation when the Cloncurry Club affiliated with the State body. In 1965, whilst on temporary transfer to Sydney he joined the Y.M.C.A. Club. In 1966, whilst on temporary transfer to Melbourne, he joined the Rainbow TTC.

It was in Melbourne that he first was encouraged to think on a more national theme. He joined the Victorian Table Tennis Umpires League and was successful in passing his theory for the State Umpire’s Badge. On returning to Brisbane he passed the practical section of the requirements and became a State Umpire. He further pursued his interest in umpiring, became a National Umpire at the Commonwealth Championships in Melbourne and later an International Umpire in 1978. With his interest in umpiring he was selected as a regional representative on the Queensland Umpires Committee and shortly afterwards became Queensland’s representative on the Australian Table Tennis Umpires Committee. He served as a secretary of that committee for a time, and in that capacity, was instrumental in reviews of the examination papers, the setting of examination papers for the National Umpires exams, the examination of many candidates, and assisting the N.D.C. with the setting up of the umpiring standards required of coaches.

Jim was Referee of many state and other tournaments and Deputy Referee at three international tournaments. Jim conducted a number of seminars on umpiring for several state bodies, i.e. Queensland and West Australia.

At the 1987 Australian Open and Junior Championships in Brisbane, Jim was part of the Organising Committee. His role was media relations and those of you who were in Brisbane would know of the work done in this area. Those of you who were not fortunate to be there would have likely read something of the championships as Jim’s despatches were printed in most media outlets in Australia and New Zealand.

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION

• 1976 to 1991: Queensland Delegate to the Australian Table Tennis Association (now Table Tennis Australia).
• 1976 to 1979: Secretary of the Australian Table Tennis Association Umpires Committee.
• 1978 to 1982 and 1983 to 1986: Member of the Disciplinary Investigation Panel.
• 1979 to 1985: Member of the Coaching Committee.

AWARDS

• 1985: Awarded Life Membership of the Queensland Table Tennis Federation (now Table Tennis Queensland).
• 1987: Awarded Life Membership of the Australian Table Tennis Association.
• 1996: Nominated as Fellow of the Society of Sports Administrators.

Jim’s funeral will be held on Friday 22 July at 10.30am at Ipswich Funeral Home and Chapel – 22 Warwick Road, Ipswich, Queensland, 4305.

Rest in peace Jim.