Club Life Members of the Yarrawonga Squash Club in 1984, Brian and Margaret Lyons cut the cake for the 50th anniversary!
When he was aged 30, Yarrawonga’s Brian Lyons was introduced to squash whilst working a seed cleaning job at Melton.
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“A young fellow took me for a hit. That’s when I got the idea of squash in Yarrawonga. I said to (wife) Marg: ‘We need to have squash courts in Yarrawonga. We’ll build them’,” the now 81-year-old said last Friday night.
Within two years, those very three squash courts today in Benalla Road were built by the Lyons and were opened in November 1972.
Most decorated women’s club champions were Raelene Davis, Rochelle Shaw and Vicki Martin.
“The squash club was formed in January 1973 by John Easdown (original president), Bert Washington, John Stuart, my wife Margaret and myself. Margaret used to run the day-time programs,” the much-decorated Brian said.
Wayne Dunne (left) won the men’s club championship a record nine times and Max Currie had his name twice on the board as club champion.
Five decades on, to last Friday night, March 24, 2023 an estimated 75 current and past squash players celebrated 50 years of Yarrawonga Squash and Racquet, which mainly involves squash.
Yarrawonga Squash Club thrived in the 1970s. Juniors played on Monday night, ladies on Tuesday nights, B grade men on Wednesday night and A grade men on Thursday nights, with around 140-150 players competing in competitions.
Squash has proved popular over those 50 years. Whilst today’s numbers are lower than the hurley burley days, numbers are still good with between 40 and 50 players.
Margaret Lyons and Noel Richmond performed the role of secretary for two and 10 years respectively. Margaret used to also run competitions.
The camaraderie amongst attendees at the half-century celebration was obvious with a big buzz and plenty of talk. Intertown matches, late night match finishes and many memorable occasions were talked about with another late night ending.
After the warm welcome by club president Anthony Hammon, club life member Brian also mentioned some “incidents” over the years which included the spa door being open which resulted in a sheep diverting from the side lane into the spa.
An exhibition match was played between two very talented club youngsters in Zara Shaw and Xander Smith.
A past president Dario Prighel added another example of an “incident” which was “red-line fever” whenever Brian played Sean Quinn and he, as president, had to umpire their matches!
The Lyon family has been synonymous with squash in Yarrawonga and beyond since 1973. Pictured are the Lyon and extended family squash members, from left, Vicki Martin, Kerryn Lyons, Sophie Martin, Rochelle Shaw, Brian and Marg Lyons, Riley Shaw, Zara Shaw, Annie Martin; in front, Zack and Josh Innella, and Michael Shaw. Over the 50 years, squash racquets have changed from a wooden outer covering to graphite and racquet balls have gone from a single yellow dot to a double yellow dot to become slower.
“For Marg and myself, squash has been very social for us. We just love the people,” Brian, a one-time club champion, said. Marg added: “It has been a good 50 years and we have kids and grandkids playing.”
Dual club champion Max Currie emphasised how significant the squash club has been to him. “Thirty years ago I was here and firstly I want say to you Brian, you and your family are legends. You built the club and it’s still standing. I’ve made all my friends here.”
Record nine-time men’s club champion Wayne Dunne loved being at the big milestone celebration, as did women’s champions Vicki Martin (five-time consecutive club champion 1984-88) sister Rochelle Shaw and Raelene Davis (both four-time club champions). Everyone did! Rochelle was ranked 56th in the world in the women’s division, in the late 1990s.
Arguably the hardest job of any club is the role of secretary. Comparing notes last Friday night were Marg Lyons (secretary 1980 and 1981) and Noel Richmond (1983, 84 and from 1986 to 1996) who performed the big task so well. Marg was a lady club champion and a Murray Valley champion.
Committee members Andrew McPherson, Vice President Adrian Smith, President Anthony Hammon, Treasurer Fletcher Swan and a past president, Dario Prighel.
Yarrawonga Squash Club has been continuously registered and affiliated with Victorian Squash (VicSquash) since 1973. Over those 50 years, the building has had six owners, is privately owned and leased to the squash club.
Sadly, it appears this will be the last year for squash at its home for the last five decades. Advice was reinforced to club officials last Friday night by former Yarrawonga-based Moira Shire Councillor Peter Mansfield and Dario Prighel regarding the way ahead, to be in contact with the shire administrator and aware of all associated with the proposed multi-purpose stadium at Vic Park.
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