Photo: Thomas Spark says he has been playing squash for about 50 years. Picture: Rodney Braithwaite.
ARTICLE - James Bennett
A legend of Shepparton squash has been recognised with one of our nation's top honours this Australia Day.
Thomas Spark was awarded with an Order of Australia Medal for services to squash as a coach and player.
A member of Goulburn Valley Squash Club, the 65-year-old is a founder, life member, foundation member and committee member. He has been a professional coach of the sport since 1980.
Mr Spark said he was humbled to receive the OAM.
“You get involved in something and you don't expect accolades or whatever for being involved, so to be nominated by my peers it's pretty special that they've acknowledged me,” he said.
“It's a low-profile sport, so it's nice to get it out there.
“I've been playing for nearly 50 years. I filled in for a brother who was playing in a competition and quite liked it.
“I quite enjoyed the individuality of the sport. You only perform as good as the effort you put in yourself . . . the challenge, the harder you trained and better you played was the more reward you got out of it.”
His lengthy commitment to local squash is not limited to administration and coaching.
Mr Spark has a comprehensive list of achievements.
He has been the Australian Master Squash Champion (in various age groups) 12 times, is a two-time winner of the New Zealand Masters Squash title, holds 20 Victorian Country Champion titles and is a 16-time Victorian Masters Squash Champion.
On three occasions Mr Spark was a member of the Hopman Cup Country Teams Championship-winning team, including in 2014 with Goulburn Valley Squash.
Outside of Greater Shepparton Mr Spark was a Ballarat squash champion from 1975 to 1980.
He was also the number one ranked squash player in Victoria in 1981 and 1982.
But Mr Spark said he was most proud of winning the World Masters Squash Championship (45-49 age division) in 2001.
“To win in Melbourne was special because my family could be there; it was like winning on home soil.”
Mr Spark also won a World Masters Games Squash Title (35-39 age division) in Queensland in 1994.
He said at a local level he was proud that squash had its niche in the community.
“To help rejuvenate it from where it was just hanging, to getting it back up,” he said of his involvement.
“Mooroopna had shut down and Shepp had folded and now it's quite a strong club.
“There's some good juniors coming through including a couple of local players that have made state teams.”
Mr Spark was inducted into the Squash and Racquetball Victoria Hall of Fame in 2016 and given legend status in 2020
For more great stories around the Goulburn Valley region - check out the Shepparton News - https://www.sheppnews.com.au/
FOR ADDITIONAL CONTENT, CHECK OUT SQUASH AND RACQUETBALL VICTORIA'S STORY - Tom Spark is honoured with an OAM