Indoor stadium is needed
HORSHAM Table Tennis Association fully supports the concept of a multi-purpose indoor sports stadium as stated by Cr Mark Radford in Monday’s Wimmera Mail-Times.
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Table tennis has been played in Maydale Pavilion, in the Horsham Showgrounds, since 1963 as shown in photo when it was built. Table tennis and the basketball association shared Maydale until 1975. Maydale has served us well but we now need facilities that are at a standard where you can attract players to our sport.
Many Horsham primary school, secondary school and the Horsham Special School students have shared the facility for many years with ram sales and the Horsham Show animal nursery. The association means no disrespect to the ag society members, who are the custodians of Maydale Pavilion, with any of their comments.
We cater for people with a disability, Keenages which is a table tennis program for older adults, school-aged children, Horsham Special School students and a junior and senior competition.
Horsham and surrounding communities need state-of-the-art facilities for their chosen sport to grow and be able to meet current state regulations. The future sporting champions of the region will come from better facilities which is supported by all state sporting bodies who can see the future of their sports in state-of-the-art facilities. Yes, you may say at what cost – but look back on the Horsham Aquatic Centre and the Horsham Town Hall and tell your children and grandchildren that you were also against these valuable community assets.
Now is the time for all indoor sports to come together for the next generation and think of the next 50 years – not today. I have grandchildren and do not care what indoor sport they play – but they deserve the best Horsham can offer. Come on Horsham – get behind a dream and we can make it a reality.
Jeff Pekin, president, Horsham Table Tennis Association
Support for gallery
ON BEHALF of the Makers' Gallery and Studio, I would like to express our thanks and appreciation for your recent articles and video footage.
In particular, Samantha Camarri, photographer and Carly Werner, reporter, were great, coming to the gallery and taking the video footage. The two large articles in recent weeks, publicising our Christmas market and gallery, were perfect and helped spread the word about the market and then the change of date because of the weather.
It is exactly this kind of support to community organisations such as ours from Fairfax Media that really help build a sense of community and trust.
Di Dale, secretary, Makers' Gallery and Studio, Horsham
Difficult time for some
FOR many Australians, the festive season is one of joy and connection.
Yet for others in our neighbourhoods, that sense of togetherness, warmth and belonging will not be felt, and rather an acute sense of loneliness will take hold. Christmas Day might be lunch for one, sleeping rough or spent with the paralysing uncertainty of not knowing where family is, after being separated because of war or conflict.
We know loneliness doesn’t discriminate. If you don’t catch it early, it can reach chronic levels and have a significant effect on our health. When there’s no one by your side, and you’re feeling isolated, communities start to become less trusting, there’s more fear and places start to feel less safe.
Red Cross is calling on you to make this the Season of Belonging, by taking simple steps. Be kind on social media, say hello to your neighbours, volunteer or check on someone you know is in trouble.
A donation to Red Cross will also help us continue on our mission to work with half a million of the most socially excluded Australians. You can help via redcross.org.au/act.
Wenda Donaldson, director Victoria, Australian Red Cross