Squash Australia has a unique problem and not of its own doing, something completely out of their control.
The property boom, according to Squash Australia CEO Gary O'Donnell, saw good profitable Squash businesses in suburbia across the nation grab the opportunity provided by developers.
And who could blame them, the result is that now there is a dearth of squash courts and one of the major focuses of Squash Australia is to work with local government so that when recreation centres are built, squash courts are included.
In years past, Gary O'Donnell explained, local authorities planning these recreational centres would dismiss Squash as "the bloke up the road has squash courts". Yet in spite of this difficulty, Squash Australia nonetheless is forging ahead.
http://www.squash.org.au/
Australia's elite squash players have something to sing about. Gary O'Donnell said noted that Squash Australia in performance, is in very good shape.
Four Australian men are in the world's top twenty and thirty are on the world professional circuit of 450 contestants. The women likewise have three in the top twenty and 35-40 on the world tour out of 350 contestants. For rankings see -
http://www.squash.org.au/sqaus/players/rankings.htm
The current top four men are David Palmer (NSW), Cameron Pilley (NSW), Stewart Boswell (ACT) and Aaron Frankcomb (TAS) who finished with last year's World Championships with the Bronze.
The current top four women are Kasey Brown (NSW), Donna Urquhart (NSW), Lisa Camilleri (QLD) and Melody Francis (VIC).
The next two major tournaments are in Chennai, India running from 2-7 March. For many years the sub-continent nations, India and particularly Pakistan had the top international players. The other major tournament is in Montreal Canada from March 3-10.
Well-Being Australia's Respite program includes the AIS Squash Program based in Brisbane. Australian and AIS Head Coach Byron Davis welcomes Baptist minister Mark Tronson to the Squash Unit. Squash Australia's CEO Gary O'Donnell was interviewed last week by the Australian Missionary News IPTV.