New president’s pickleball pursuit

NORTHERN Rivers Pickleball Club president Steve Bergan has vowed to secure designated pickleball courts for the organisation during his term.

The 60-year-old pickleball enthusiast recently took over from the club’s inaugural president, Rik Dillon, who initiated the campaign.

“Our main goal will be to find a home where we can have our own courts,” Bergan said.

“We would need at least 10.

“At the moment, we share a space with a lot of other sports at the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre, and there’s volleyball, basketball and pickleball lines going everywhere.

“I think it’s going to take a lot of lobbying of Ballina Shire Council.

“It probably won’t happen for a little while, but that’s my goal.”

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club has grown from 35 to 285 members in just three years.

Bergan attributes the sport’s popularity to its appeal across all ages, offering fun, friendship and fitness.

“I played a bit of tennis, squash, and table tennis previously, and this game combines the best aspects of each into one,” he said. “It’s quite fast and strategic when you get to the competitive level, but we have a lot of members who just come along for a social game with friends.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in Australia.”

Bergan started playing pickleball with his daughter in 2022 after hearing an advertisement for a ‘have a go’ event on the radio. He soon began competing, winning a gold medal in the over-60s men’s doubles at the Pickleball Australia Seniors Tournament at Currumbin earlier this year.

He will be supported by committee members including secretary Naomi Doncaster, treasurer Marion Luke and membership officer Karen Bergan, along with Pam Chilman, Beth Hansen, Chen Tay and Leanne Trigger.