88 YEARS YOUNG NEW SOUTH WALES TABLE TENNIS PLAYER NEVER RETIRES

The world No 1 tennis player Ash Barty stunned the sports world on 23 March 2022 by announcing her departure from the sport at the age of 25.

But 88 years young New South Wales table tennis player Gillian Hutchinson is still playing and training for the 2022 NSW Veterans Table Tennis Closed Championships and the 2022 Australian National Veterans Table Tennis Championships.

Gillian was born in 1933 and started to play table tennis when she was 15 years old in high school, and she continued to play table tennis when she studied at the University of Sydney in early 1950s.

While teaching music at Narwee Boys High School, Gillian introduced Table Tennis as a school sport and when she left 11 years later there were 14 table tennis tables.  Gillian used to play at night at Revesby and later Greenacre YMCAs. Gillian ran a yearly competition for the 6 schools in the Wolli Zone at her school, Narwee, and her school team did well in the Combined High Schools Competition.

Gillian said: “Music keeps my mind happy and table tennis keeps my body fit. I have been enjoying my life by playing table tennis recreationally and competitively for more than a half century since 1948. Age is no barrier at all in table tennis.”

Gillian has been selected to NSW Veteran State Teams to represent NSW in Australian National Veteran Championships for dozens of years. Gillian ranked No 9 for Over 80 Women’s at the 2021 Australian National Rankings for Veterans.

Gillian attended the 2016 World Veteran Table Tennis Championships in Spain with veteran players from around the world to compete in 17,000 matches.

There were more than 3000 players for the 2016 World Veteran Table Tennis Championships. Age divisions ranged from over-40 to over-90 and players came from a range of cultural backgrounds.

Gillian said: “Although traditionally the popular perception that Asia dominates the sport, but it wasn't necessarily the case. The Swedes, the English and the Germans play a lot. The sport is very popular in Europe now.”

Gillian continued; "There were 278 Japanese players, of whom 44 were under 60, so just imagine how many were in the older age groups. Table tennis is a sport for all and for life, and there were many benefits for older players."

Gillian commented: "Somebody told me 'you should tell the Minister for Ageing how good table tennis is because it keeps us healthy so they don't have to spend so much money on keeping us healthy'."

Gillian was recognised for her long-term association with table tennis by being presented with the Banks Outstanding Sporting Achievement Awards for 2020, which acknowledge outstanding sportspeople in the Banks electoral division on behalf of the Hon David Coleman Federal Member for Banks.

Vice President of TTNSW, Ted Davis said: “TTNSW is the governing body for table tennis in New South Wales. Our sport works from the bottom up, and we have a lot of places for seniors to play. Gillian’s journeys prove age is just definitely a number and there is no barrier to participate in table tennis at any age and at any place. TTNSW is proud of Gillian’s achievements and commitment to table tennis and wishes the best luck for Gillian’s show at the 2022 Australian National Veteran Championships in Darwin.”

David Lee and Michael Li thank Gillian Hutchinson for the interviews, discussions, advices and supports contributing to this article, and wish to gratefully acknowledge Table Tennis NSW, Table Tennis Australia and ITTF.