Benalla Squash Club treasurer Greg Murphy and fellow members are bucking this trend, as a thriving community takes to the courts on Thomas Street several times a week.
“I don’t remember exactly how old I was but it would have been around 10,” Murphy said.
“I think (I first played) in Melbourne with a friend about my age and I’ve played ever since.
“Racket sports are known to be the best physical sports for cardio, and there was a study done by Forbes magazine a few years ago and it rated racket sports as the best for cardio and squash as the best out of all of them.
“In Benalla, there’s a big squash history and a long squash history and there’s a lot of squash players and a lot of strength to the teams in town.”
Despite the passionate members and high level of competition, the Rose City has seen a decline in squash courts over the years.
Courts at the caravan club were closed down within recent memory and the current courts that the Benalla Squash Club uses, the only two left in the town, are up for sale.
“We’ve known the need for getting more courts for Benalla because we knew that the current courts we’re at weren’t going to be there for ever, seeing as they were privately owned,” Murphy said.
“We started a project called the ‘sports for courts project’ to get more squash courts built in Benalla. We formed the Benalla Squash and Racquetball Association in 2010 and the first thing to do was decide the ideal location for the courts.
“We talked in group forums and to the people in charge of community land, so that the courts couldn’t be pulled out from underneath people in the future.
“The best site was among the stadium, and the council were keen to make it a multiple sports precinct there and the basketball people were keen to get a refurbishment done there.
“Over recent years other people have come on board with their wish lists, such as the netball people, and so the master plan that came out in 2019 addressed all of that.
“The basketball players (are) getting another court and the netball players getting an extra one as well, and the squash players getting multiple courts.
“The latest news is that the government has pledged $15 million to the project and it’s all ready to go.
“I submitted a question to council this week asking when the plans were getting under way and for a timeline.
“This pledged money won’t just sit around, I don't think.”
Murphy says the club always enjoys having new players join the ranks.
For anyone looking to pick up a racket for the first time, the Benalla Squash Club makes it very accessible.
“We don’t have any formal coaches or anyone who can hold a class but we do have a bank of experienced players here who are able to help players,” Murphy said.
“As is the case with any club, we’re very happy to help people get into the sport.
“We hold ‘come and try’ sessions before the start of each season.”
Other ways to play include going to the courts at 5pm on Sundays for casual training or turning up an hour earlier at 4pm to join the juniors’ and beginners’ section.
If you’re looking to have a hit at any other time you can grab the keys for casual court hire from Ray White during business hours or from a squash committee member any other time.
The community vibe is what really stands out about the Benalla club, and Murphy says the social aspect is ingrained in the sport.
“The social side to it is that over the years I’ve played squash you meet a lot of great people and the social side (involves) meeting people with a common interest at the start,” he said.
“The physical side is half of the sport and the social side and the people is the other half.”
You can find more information about the Benalla Squash Club at https://www.facebook.com/benallasquashclub/
