Getting together for social sports

FOR nearly two-and-a-half-years, an ever-changing group of women have been taking to the courts throughout the region for friendly games of varying racquet sports.

The key constant behind the social sports events is Wendy Vorstenbosch, who started organising the get-togethers under the 30 Together name in late 2021.

She said her aim was to foster a friendly social environment.

“I used to always have a hit of tennis with the kids and then there was another girlfriend who’d play as well, but we wanted to reach out and have a few more join us,” she said.

“Because it’s purely social, we’d be busy talking and would all forget the score so we’d mark it 30 together which is where the name comes from.

“We just try to hit to each other and have some rallies. It’s very casual and flexible.

“A lot of the ladies had never played tennis or anything before so it was about getting them back out and doing something fun.”

Each outing generally sees about half a dozen participants, and are listed on the 30 Together Facebook group of more than 100 members.

Their get-togethers vary between tennis, badminton and pickleball with interchanging venues such as the Ballarat Badminton Stadium and Haddon Recreation Centre.

Much of the group’s core members met during other social sports outings such as Anne Goodfellow, who Ms Vorstenbosch met through a Walking Netball session.

Having taken part in their get-togethers since the beginning, Ms Goodfellow said the group, and Ms Vorstenbosch in particular, has kept many socially and physically active.

“Wendy’s kept organising people and gathering, bringing them together. She’s just been amazing,” she said.

“She’s been organising around everyone’s different times and bringing it all together. It’s been amazing to see how committed she is and how she perseveres through it.

“Having something like this almost daily is really beneficial to all of us. There’s been a lot of people come and go. Some of stuck and others join in and out, so it’s been really good.”