Yellow Dot
Newsletter of the Dickson Squash Club June 2008
Welcome to an overdue, bumper, edition of Yellow Dot.
Competition
news
The Autumn 2008 squash competition has been a successful one for Dickson, with teams in the finals in almost all Divisions.
The following teams are playing in the finals:
|
Division 1: Dickson |
Division 2: Dickson 1 |
|
Division 3: Dickson 1 and 2 |
Division 4: Dickson 2 and 3 |
|
Division 5: Dickson |
Division 6: Dickson 1 and 2 |
|
Division 7: Dickson 1 and 2 |
Division 8: Dickson 2 |
|
Division 9: Dickson 2 |
Division 10: Dickson 1 |
|
Division 11: Dickson 1 and 2 |
Division 13: Dickson 1 |
|
Division 14: Dickson 1 and 2 |
Division 15: Dickson 1 and 2 |
|
Division 16: Dickson 1, 2
and 3 |
Division 17: Dickson 1 and 3 |
We wish all of these teams well. Well done in particular to Division 16 – all three Dickson teams in the final! Good luck with the challenge of dislodging the top team – Woden – and taking the premiership.
Club
Championships
The Dickson Squash Club Championships will be held over the last week in July. They are an enjoyable sporting and social event and an ideal way to tune up for the Spring competition. More details and entry forms will be available soon. Mark the date in your diary.
Club
practice
Organised club practice is held every Sunday between 2 and 6 pm in non-daylight savings hours. You are allocated a court and an opponent, which change every 20 minutes.
Saturday is also a club practice day for all interested players, club members or not. Held between 2.00 and 5.00 pm, this is run on a first-come, first-served basis.
The cost on each day is $5.00.
Practice gets congested, particularly on Sundays. To avoid the worst congestion, the recommended strategy is to arrive early (2.00 pm) or late (after 4.30 pm)!
Centre-based
competition
The centre-based competition trial is for both competitions this year. We have been told that the Squash ACT Board plans to undertake a review towards the middle of the second competition, in the course of which, we understand that players will be consulted.
The Dickson Squash Club Committee will need to develop a view on this matter in time to let Squash ACT know what we think when the issue comes up for review.
Depending on what Squash ACT does, we may run a poll of members in the second half of the year. However, if you have strong views (and many, on both sides of the debate do) let any of the Committee know what they are.
Squash at
Erindale
In March, the Dickson Squash Club committee raised with Squash ACT some concerns expressed by our members about the courts at Erindale.
In essence, the concerns boiled down to:
We have since been advised that the Erindale courts can be wet-mopped before the competition each night. However, players may need to ask staff at the counter for this to be done and will need to be prepared to delay the start of the match for a few minutes to allow the courts to dry.
We strongly advise all players to do so – it makes a big difference.
We have also been told that Squash ACT is keen to try and get a satisfactory resolution to the issue of supper and drinks – particularly now with a centre-based competition. The new Squash ACT Board will take this up with Valleys Squash Club committee to work through possible options.
These are promising developments.
Supper at
National
Early this year, the Dickson Squash Club committee was advised by Squash ACT that there was agreement that squash players could take some food into the bar at National Centre as long as they purchased additional food. More recently, players have done so, but have nevertheless been asked to put their food away or leave (on one occasion, when the food area was shut!).
We understand that the Squash ACT Competition Committee will be clarifying this matter.
Martin Grace
Following Martin Grace’s sudden passing in December 2007, the Club took a number of immediate steps to support his family. These were recognised in a letter from Liz, the text below:
17 January 2008
Dear DSC
What can I say! We were blown away by the outpouring of
sadness and sympathy for the loss of Martin.
His funeral was amazing and the generosity, caring and thoughtfulness of
the club members brought ease and comfort.
Thank you is inadequate but I mean it from
the bottom of my heart.
Warmest regards to all,
Liz
The original of this letter, and an accompanying card, is on display in the Club Room.
The Committee hopes to be in a position to announce shortly what further steps we propose to take to commemorate Martin’s contribution to ACT and Dickson squash.
For those unfamiliar with Martin’s achievements, please refer to the “Squash ACT Awards Ceremony” section and Obituary later in this Yellow Dot edition.
Marcus Smith
Many of you will know that Marcus Smith left
And that he is now a member of the Squash Australia Board? He can’t keep himself away!
Safety on
court
There have been a couple of instances recently where collisions on court in competition games have caused concern, including one that went to the Squash ACT Disciplinary Committee.
Accidental collisions are inevitable, but squash is a non-contact sport and should be played with common sense and courtesy. If you run into your opponent accidentally, you should apologise and show appropriate concern for their welfare. (And, of course, referees should penalise any careless or dangerous contact, the latter severely.)
Something Potty
Congratulations to Helen and Doug Potter, long term members of the Club, who welcomed another baby to their family in December: Jamie Adam at 6lb 8oz.
What to do: “Let,
please”
Below is a simplified thought process a referee should go through when asked for a let.
1. Did interference occur?
The striker has four basic rights and interference has occurred if the opponent fails to provide any of these, even if the player has made every effort to do so:
If no interference has occurred, or the interference was so minimal that the player's view of and freedom to get to and play the ball were not affected, then it’s no let, otherwise move on to no. 2.
2. Could the obstructed player have reached the ball and made a good return? And was the player making every effort to do so?
If either answer is no, then it’s no let, otherwise move on to no. 3.
3. Did the obstructed player move past the point of interference and play on? Or create the interference in moving to the ball?
If the answer to either question is yes, then it’s no let, otherwise move on to no. 4.
4. Did the obstructing player make every effort avoid the interference?
If the player didn’t, then it’s a stroke, otherwise move on to no.5.
5. Did the interference prevent the obstructed player’s reasonable swing?
If yes, then it’s a stroke to the player, otherwise move on to no. 6.
6. Could the obstructed player play a winning return?
If yes, then it’s a stroke, otherwise it’s a let unless no.7 applies.
7. Would the obstructed player have struck the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall or, if going to a side wall, would it have been a winning return?
If either answer is yes, then it’s a stroke to the player.
Remember that this is a simplification – whilst it will deliver the correct result most of the time, you do need to read the rules thoroughly.
See http://www.worldsquash.org.uk/rules.html for both full and simplified versions of the rules.
2007 Spring
Pennant
It’s old news now, but we should also reflect on the achievements of our teams that played in the 2007 Spring Pennant Grand Finals:
|
1 |
Finalists |
Jhie Gough, Jason Chen, Paul
Cartwright, Dominic Cooper, Peter Trevitt |
|
2 |
Champions |
Peter Trevitt, Faiq Saddique,
Marcus Smith, Charles Flannery |
|
8 |
Finalists |
John Prideaux, Geoff Gleeson,
Mike Hogan |
|
9 |
Champions |
Stephen Barnett, Jon Freeman,
|
|
9 |
Finalists |
Mark Ciesniewski, Christopher
Mettam, Jackie Oliver |
|
10 |
Finalists |
David Milne, Jamie Carl,
Helen Fantich |
|
11 |
Champions |
Michael Douglas, Shane
Senini, Wayne Alford |
|
12 |
Champions |
David Milne, Mahendra Kumar,
James Rainey |
|
13 |
Champions |
Josh Peck, Karina Sommers,
Sue Wigham |
|
14 |
Finalists |
Arn Bui, Phil Greaves, Iain
Hamilton |
|
15 |
Finalists |
Joseph Howard, Michael Howard,
Bill Quinn |
|
16 |
Champions |
James Norman, Keith Wylie,
Simon Jackson |
|
16 |
Finalists |
|
Many other teams contested the finals, making it yet another great season for the Club.
Squash ACT
Awards Ceremony
In December 2007, Squash ACT invited representatives from each of the clubs to a presentation ceremony at Sports House.
The purpose of the ceremony was to recognise outstanding contributions to squash. Awards were given in three categories:
The festivities of the evening were tempered by the then-recent loss of Martin Grace, who was of our sport’s finest servants.
However, it was extremely pleasing that Dickson members were represented in all award categories.
They were:
Ted Kaminski
Ted received a Service Award for his contribution to the Dickson Squash Club over many years, including 10 years as Club President and many years as a high level player and qualified referee.
Matthew Driver
Matthew received a Service Award for his efforts in developing and promoting the Squash Matrix, and we all know how successful that’s been in revolutionising the administration of pennant competitions.
Matthew’s efforts were further rewarded with the presentation of the John Langmore Trophy. In this case, the award also included recognition of his role on the Competition Committee. This is an award that hadn’t been presented for some time, and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Squash in the ACT over a long period.
Marcus Smith
Marcus was also awarded the John Langmore Trophy. In his case, it was for his extended period of service as President of Squash ACT, which included overseeing a very difficult transition in saving the Woden Squash Courts.
Martin Grace
The most touching part of the Award evening was reserved for Martin Grace, who was awarded Life Membership of Squash ACT. Some weeks prior to the ceremony, Martin knew that the award was going to be presented. He was deeply honoured. It was a moving moment when Liz accepted it on his behalf.
Martin’s broader life achievements are highlighted in the Obituary, but the following paragraphs contain more detail specific to squash…
Prior to moving to
Not long after moving to Dickson Martin was elected to the Committee in 1966, and had been continuously elected to the Committee since then. In the late 1970s he became President of the Club, where he worked hard to establish a positive and fruitful relationship with the Canberra Tradesmen’s Union Club, which remains today. Sunday afternoon club practice was introduced and is now a key fixture of the club’s activities.
In 1984, Martin and Liz and another couple also took ownership of the bar at the centre, ensuring that the facility was available to player and non-player alike for the social part of the squash evening. They ran this for three years, guaranteeing that the bar remained an important plank in the club’s social activities.
Martin was then elected President of Squash ACT in 1989. During his two years there his skills as a leader and manager were clear, and he worked hard to introduce a number of important initiatives.
Martin was also a qualified referee for many years. For the past 10 years he has also been the
Squash Referee’s Association Coordinator, cajoling players to learn the rules,
mentoring young referees and also acted as Tournament Referee for the ACT
Junior and Senior Open, among other tournaments. He also travelled away with other referees to
officiate at events, and most recently travelled to
In 2006, Martin experienced a life highlight while participating in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games as a Squash Marshall. In this role, he met the world’s top players and officials, and attended the volunteers’ parade, an event he found inspiring.
During all of this time, he was also a player for the
Dickson Squash Club, and only missed 3 pennant competitions since 1966, and
only then because he was visiting
Last year he won the Over 70 year age group at the Australian
Squash Masters Championships held in
He received numerous awards during his time – the President’s Trophy at the Dickson Squash Club for contribution to the Dickson Clubs as well as the John Langmore Trophy for Services to Squash in the ACT.
In October last year he was awarded the ACT Sportstar Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of his contribution to the sport.
Of course, Dickson
players weren’t the only ones recognised by Squash ACT…
The following people were also presented with Squash ACT Service Awards:
|
National |
|
National |
|
Queanbeyan |
|
Masters |
|
Masters |
And Barbara Slotemaker De Bruine, joined Heather Mackay and Martin Grace as Squash ACT’s only Life Members.
Dickson
Squash Club Committee
Members should feel free to contact any of the Dickson Squash Club Committee on any squash matter:
President:
Secretary: Anthony Burgess
Treasurer: Dick O'Rourke
General Members:
Doug Lean Karina Sommers
Contact details are on the Matrix.
Yellow Dot
Got good ideas for the next Yellow Dot? Email them to anthony.burgess@netspeed.com.au
1935 – 2007
A passionate member of the
Dickson and ACT squash community passed in December 2007: Martin Grace was 72. Within the squash community, Martin was less
well known for his greatest passion: as a tireless fighter for the environment
and
A leader of the feisty band of
tree lovers known as the Watson Woodlanders, Martin not only helped save 18ha
of yellow box/red gum grassy woodland at North Watson from the developer’s
bulldozers, but led the subsequent efforts to manage and restore the area.
Prominent in conscripting the
support of professional ecologists, concerned residents and media mates from
1992 on, Martin helped ensure that the Watson woodlands were never far from the
public eye in a fight that took nearly 13 years to win.
With a quasi-scientific
background as a qualified instrument maker, Martin’s quick grasp of the
scientific arguments that supported his cause and the botanical names of the
plants he fought to preserve impressed all and sundry, particularly the
professional ecologists he enlisted to the woodlands cause.
Through persistence and
commitment, and against the planner’s calls for infill and urban consolidation,
Martin and the Woodlanders enjoyed a victory of sorts in 2001 when five
hectares of the woodland was formally quarantined from housing development and
again in 2005 when the whole 18ha was named the Justice Robert Hope Park and
added to the
With the battle won, Martin set
about cleaning up the woodlands by organising hundreds of hours of working bees
and putting in many more alone, so that by the time he died from a heart attack
on 5 December, most of the woody weeds had been exterminated, the Serrated
Tussock chipped out, much of the Patterson’s Curse sprayed or mowed, the dam
repaired, boundary fencing properly aligned and over 400 trees, shrubs and
several thousand native grasses and wildflowers been planted. Even a brochure
had been produced.
But Martin’s commitment to the
bush wasn’t restricted to Watson – he was also a founding member, committeeman,
and past president of the Land Rover Club of the ACT, cheerfully organising
excursions into the scrub on “unwrecking” missions which involved removing car
wrecks, pine wildings and other blemishes on the bush in close cooperation with
local park managers.
And he was an accomplished
sportsman.
Since the early 1960s, Martin was
prominent among
As a player, Martin only missed
four competitions in 40 years and in 2006 won his age group at the Australian
Squash Masters Championships.
Until his death, he was playing a
minimum of three times a week, and continued to foster the development of new
players to the sport.
He was honoured many times for
his contribution to the things he loved – The Australian Sports Medal in 2000,
the Dickson Squash Club President’s Trophy; the John Langmore Trophy for
Services to Squash; the 2006 Sport Employment Australia Contribution to Sport
Award, and Life Membership of Squash ACT in 2007.
Martin came to
Martin’s woodland work is not
finished but the committed band of Woodlanders he’s left behind have promised
it will go on.
Martin is survived by his wife of
47 years, Liz, his children Alina and Rohan and two grandchildren.