STICKING WITH SQUASH
Sue Rainey of Essendon Squash is doing what other squash centres can’t, staying open and single handedly maintaining a community.
EXTERIOR OF ESSENDON SQUASH
“IT’S SAD TO SEE IT SORT OF, SQUASH IN AUSTRALIA, DYING A BIT OF A DEATH. MAYBE NOT DYING A DEATH, BUT IT’S CERTAINLY SICK. IT NEEDS HEALING. IT NEEDS SOMETHING DOING TO IT.”
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A SATURDAY SESSION BETWEEN FATHER AND SON AT ESSENDON SQUASH
“SLOWLY THERE WILL BE LESS AND LESS SQUASH. I DON’T THINK THAT’S A GOOD THING. FOR THE SPORT OR FOR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.”
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“I GET A LOT OF LOVE BACK FROM THEM. I KNOW THEY ENJOY BEING A PART OF ESSENDON SQUASH. THEY’RE VERY LOYAL. WHEREAS A LOT OF OTHER CLUBS, PLAYERS MOVE AROUND A LOT. WHEREAS MY PLAYERS, THEY STICK WITH THEIR LITTLE FAMILY AT ESSENDON SQUASH.”
SUE PICTURED IN HER HOME
“I’VE GOT TO STAY HERE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PLAY. IT DRIVES ME TO STAY.”
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THERE IS NOT EVEN A FENCE TO SEPARATE SUE FROM ESSENDON SQUASH
“EVERY WEEK I GET NEW PEOPLE DISCOVERING THE GAME. AND THEY COME AND GO. THEY’LL PLAY FOR A WHILE AND THEN THEY’LL FADE AWAY. IT JUST GOES UNDER THE RADAR.”
“I WOULDN’T LIKE TO BE DOING NOTHING. I WOULDN’T LIKE TO BE RETIRED. I’M NOT READY FOR IT YET. I THINK I’VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY IN MY LIFE. I HAVE NO REGRETS REALLY. I’VE HAD A GOOD RUN. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT!” - SUE RAINEY
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