Well, after having a brief chat with Margaret Jenkins about running U3A Pickleball, Margaret followed up with Course Coordinator Anne Nelson and the committee and a trial run was planned!

Through word of mouth we gathered enough locals, received permission to purchase equipment, and after a meeting with Benalla’s recreation hall hire management, a date was set - 10am Monday 3rd November!

Anne Nelson purchased the needed nets and equipment and Bev Lee publicised the group in the last newsletter, on the website and on Facebook.  Rene Martens arrived super early with his camera to help with the set-up and take photos.. Soon, 14 players were having a hit. Lots of fun was had; and on the 10th we had 16 people, while on the 17th a keen dozen came along.

​We’ve decided we’ll break up on Monday 15th December and recommence when everything starts back in 2026.
​
If anyone else wants to try this game, just come to the Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly  Avenue on Monday mornings at 10am and join in.  Phone me on 0421 679 115 if you have any questions!

Jan Kennedy

​Interested in trialling Pickleball? After a fun 'come and try' session on Monday 3rd November, weekly sessions at 10 am on Mondays to mid December are providing the opportunity to try out U3A Benalla's new pickleball equipment and the courts we will be using at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly Avenue in 2026.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a court like a badminton court, using a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball. The game can be played as singles or doubles, with players aiming to score points by outmanoeuvring their opponents and hitting the ball over a 34-inch-high net. Known for its simple rules and accessibility, pickleball is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.

The rules of Pickleball are being handed out to those attending the Monday sessions, however while you are on the website, check out https://www.pickleballaus.org/rules-and-scoring and watch this video.....

Keen to find out more about the rules and scoring? ... Here's another video ...

​Contact Jan on 0421 679 115 if you would like to be involved!

Course Coordinator Anne Nelson's report in the September Newsletter included news that 

.."Meetings are being held with Mon Boyd from the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre, as we have already had nine or ten expressions of interest for Pickleball!" 

In the President's report in the October Newsletter, Margaret Jenkins reported that

"The U3A Committee have been working toward starting Pickleball as a U3A activity.

To this end, Anne Nelson our Course Co-ordinator is arranging a “Come and Try” morning at the Indoor Recreation Centre in Ackerly Avenue Benalla.

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Indoor Rec Centre and Bryan Wilson a Pickleball coach from Wangaratta in making this morning possible.

​The date for the “Come and Try” will be available on the Website as soon as we know it."

Watch this space for further news! 

An example of a U3A game from the UK....A member who tried Pickleball recently suggested it would suit an older age group if people are happy hitting to one another, and noted that, if 'playing for sheep stations', it requires a reasonable level of mobility to dash from one side of the court to another to retrieve the balls played by a competitive opposition.  Some of our younger members may have this level of mobility, but in general members are unlikely to be 'playing for sheep stations'!

With tennis an active pursuit in rural communities over the decades, many of our members are likely to have 'muscle memory' (is that a thing) to build on!  And pickleball will not be affected if numbers fall below the need for eg. 2 x 8 people sided teams (or larger).

A web search reveals the spread of Pickleball activities in U3A's, including in the Hume region - for example: 

Nearby Murrindindee East U3A recently posted a video on FB however unfortunately the link can't be uploaded from FB.  You can hopefully find it at ​https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19BnH1p9yj/  ...

​Here's the back story from the post ...​"Thanks to a Grant from MURRINDINDI COUNCIL we were able to purchase several sets of PICKLEBALL equipment - and the games have begun in Alexandra at St John’s on Thursdays 1-3pm, Alexandra Gym on Tuesdays 4-6pm and at the Thornton Hall on Wednesdays 10.30-12.30 pm. Go on line to www.murrindindieastu3a.org.au to join."

Myrtleford U3A is developing a Pickleball course this semester -  President Jan Mock's writes in her report in their recent (August 2025) Newsletter - 

​"Pickle Ball is almost ready to go...  we have a location, the Richardson Pavillion at the Myrtleford Recreation Reserve, we have ordered the nets, bats and balls and are now waiting for non slip tape to arrive to mark the court.

We are planning to have 2 courts in operation. In addition to having our own set up, Bright Tennis Club, who run Pickle Ball in Bright, are offering to show our interested members the rules and how to play the game in Bright. When we have details of when this will occur, all interested members wanting to play Pickle Ball, will be notified and invited to go to Bright to join in this information session

We are aiming to have our first “Come and Try” day for Pickle Ball on Friday 19 September. I would like to thank Francis Lyford Pyke for all of his hard work in getting Pickle Ball started in Myrtleford and to the committee members for their support for this initiative. It further diversifies our offering for our members.'   

Course Coordinator Anne Nelson and interested member Peter Cruickshank recently met with Monica Boyd from the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre to explore the possibilities, including a 'Come and Try' day, with further follow up anticipated with members Jan Kennedy and John Holschier who put up their hands to help to convene the course.  More news in the next newsletter!

Bev Lee
Program Support

​Pickleball is increasingly appearing among U3A programs across Australia and in our region! To give you an idea - the photos are from the Pickleball event held at the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre in Benalla in June 2023  - Victorian and NSW Teams were competing in in the 'Battle of the Borders'. (It was held in Benalla due to renovations being completed at the WISAC in Wangaratta).  A 'Come and Try' day has also been held in Benalla.

​Pickleball is played either indoors or outdoors as singles or doubles, including mixed doubles. It’s played on a court similar in size and markings to a badminton court, but players often use an actual badminton court or mark out pickleball lines on a tennis court.  It would be flexible when numbers drop in winter as can work in groups of 4, 8, 12 for doubles, or 2, 4, 6 etc for singles. 

Interested in finding out more (perhaps even helping a group to be offered in the program)?
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/
https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/subjects/pickleball
https://u3asunshine.org.au/newweb/pickleball-outdoors-tuesday/
Rules of Pickleball - https://youtu.be/4vHhZ03O0PI

There is lots of other information on the internet about Pickleball... just Google eg. U3A Pickleball, How to Play Pickleball, etc.

​If you are interested in joining a Pickleball Group, feel free to phone Anne on 0438 447 379 with your interest.