The Squash WA Newsletter (SWAN)
October 2025 - Issue 115 |
Behind the Scenes
We all know various other sports have junior programs such as ‘Hot Shots’ (tennis) or ‘Net Set Go’ (netball), well we are thrilled to now have ‘Squash Stars’ for squash!
The Squash Stars program is being launched as we speak, with information sessions being delivered across the country. Squash Australia will be working with all states and territories, who will in turn work with clubs, to get Squash Stars into as many of them as possible. The program features eight session plans to cover a school term, with videos on how to deliver each session, and the best part of all of it, is that a Level 1 coach is no longer a necessity! Ask your club about Squash Stars or click here: https://www.squashstars.com.au/clubs-and-centres.
Whilst we say a HUGE thank you again to Serena for her blood, sweat and tears over the years, we welcome Rheannin Sherrick to the team. Rheannin is new to squash but not to sports administration or high performance - read more further down.
Due to the change from calendar year to financial year, we’ve needed to change the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the association. The 2025-2026 AGM will take place on Wednesday 12 November 2025, for which all documentation has been circulated as per the timeline outlined in the Constitution. We would love all our member clubs to support our sport by attending the AGM, and require at least one delegate from each for voting purposes. More are welcome to attend however each club can only vote once, and via the delegate. Please register via the AGM via Revo here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/squashwa/events/316300. |
The Stars Gala Awards evening will also move to February due to office staff changes and the excessively busy time of year. It was originally scheduled for the Saturday evening of the WA Closed, however this is no longer the case.
The Australian Masters Squash Championships were held at the beginning of September along with the Trans-Tasman Test Series between Australia and New Zealand. Not only did Australia win all three Tests, but WA also performed well in the main event, with Ray Villarroya taking out the Men’s 85+ and Sue Hillier the Ladies 60+ once again. The new format was well received and the increase in attendance in both the individuals and the teams events speaks to this. A sincere and heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to the AMAZING committee that spent all of eight months pulling this all together. It was honestly a pleasure working with everyone. |
I swapped my General Manager hat for my Coach hat on 26 September when I flew out with the WA State Junior Team to Ballarat, Victoria for the Australian Junior Championships. 25 kids, three coaches and two carers met at the Qantas Terminal at 4.45am, complete with tired eyes and plenty of yawns. |
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The well-behaved, black and gold-clad team stuck together as one as we made our way to Melbourne, travelled by bus to Ballarat (1.5 hours), then by van to our accommodation, a further 20 minutes away. After a LONG first day, we were all exhausted and ready for bed, as you can imagine!
Five of our WA juniors made it through to the semi-finals, of which Hannah Slyth was the only winner on the day to move through to the finals. The other four amazing players in Miranda Clarke, Domenic Christou, Vera Bruce and Isla Harris, pushed their opponents as hard as they could, but all fell short in huge five-setters. Well done to all our juniors for their efforts so far.
Teams start on Thursday and we are looking forward to playing in both Div 1 and Div 2.
Happy squashing!!
Leigh-Anne Kaye
General Manager |
Vic Park Open
Thanks Vic Park Squash Club
Massive thank you to everyone who attended over the weekend, it was a great turnout!
Congratulations to all winners 
Click HERE to see the results and photos.
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State Grade is BACK!
State Grade is back in action! Greg Laurence makes his return but… is there more talking than squash happening on court?  
Round 1 saw Cambridge leapfrog Mirrabooka Stars into top spot, though only after Mirrabooka sat out with the bye. Blue Gum and Belmont also picked up strong wins, while Mandurah will be hungry to bounce back after a tough start.
 Will Cambridge be able to hold the top spot? Only 6 rounds remain!
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Welcome Rheannin!
Meet our new Engagement Officer Rheannin Sherrick! Rheannin has hit the ground running and getting stuck into all things squash, bringing with her years of experience in sport and high performance. We asked Rheannin to tell us a bit about herself so help the squash community get to know her.
“I grew up in Mandurah and am now married with two wonderful kids, aged 11 and 13. My husband recently retired from the United States Marine Corps, and together we spent 17 years living in both Japan and the U.S., moving every three years and calling seven different houses home.
Sport has always been a huge part of my life. I’m a former WAIS athlete, an Australian representative in hockey, and I had the incredible opportunity to play professionally overseas for the Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Hiroshima, Japan.
Outside of sport, I enjoy binge-watching TV, walking my dog, and collecting crystals. I’m also proud to be a dual American and Australian citizen.
In this new role, I’m excited to learn a new sport and be surrounded by hardworking, passionate athletes.”
Please make Rheannin feel welcome, and introduce yourself when you see her at events and such.
#squashfamily
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Investing in Grassroots Squash: Building the Future of the Sport
Guest Writer: Level 2 Coach and Level 1 Coach Assessor Paul Kershaw
In every successful sport, the strongest foundation lies not in the elite ranks but at the grassroots level. Squash is no exception. If we want to see thriving courts, strong junior participation, and future champions representing clubs, states, and nations, the focus must be on grassroots investment and junior development.
Grassroots squash is the entry point for the next generation. It is where children first pick up a racquet, learn the thrill of hitting a clean shot, and experience the camaraderie of sport. Without this base, squash risks becoming a sport that only serves a small, dwindling group of players.
Investing in juniors isn’t just about producing professionals—it’s about building a lifelong love for the game.
Click HERE to read more.
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Spring Futures Talent Clinic
- 9am to 4pm, Thursday 9 October @ the State Squash Centre, Belmont.
- Futures clinics aim to capture children aged 7 to 12 years of age who have demonstrated talent, sportsmanship, and a keen interest in being the best squash player they can be.
- The main focus for these clinics is FUN, because having fun is what will not only keep kids playing squash, but also help them to be the healthiest and happiest little person possible!
- Must be minimum Junior Social level. Local and Compete also acceptable.
- Not sure if this clinic is suitable for your junior? Speak to your club Junior Coordinator or email development@squashwa.asn.au.
- Sign up via Revo here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/squashwa/events/316017.
Term 4 Junior League
- Sunday mornings (19/10 Mirrabooka, 26/10 Cambridge, 2/11 Brentwood, 9/11 Squash Factory, Wangara, and 14/12 Belmont).
- Junior League caters for all levels. The only prerequisite is that you must be able to serve without faulting (most of the time is okay).
- Two matches per round, bouncier balls available, prizes for division winners and sportsmanship on the final round.
- Sign up via Revo opens soon: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/squashwa/events/315992.
Busselton Invitational
- Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October @ the Sebel, Busselton.
- Experience ‘resort squash’! Participation in this tournament is currently by invitation only.
- Interested in next year’s event? Get on the waitlist by emailing busseltonsquashclub@gmail.com.
WA Closed -S
Squash WA Annual General Meeting
- Wednesday 12 November @ the State Squash Centre, Belmont.
- 6.15pm arrival for a 6.30pm sharp start (approximately one hour in duration).
- All clubs must have one delegate present for voting purposes, with additional club members also welcome to attend.
- Sign up via Revo here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/squashwa/events/316300.
Great Southern Wheatbelt Teams
LachWil Cambridge Open PSA-Sat -B
- Friday 28 to Sunday 30 November @ Squashworld Cambridge.
- Equal prize money for men’s and women’s PSA Open, plus Bronze AJST status for the juniors.
- Division for men, women, masters (35+), juniors and novice juniors. Sign up opens soon.
- Sign up via Revo here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/csc/events/316746.
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2025 Dunlop Cup (aka Cambridge Junior Teams)
Thanks Eric Gray
Another great edition of the Dunlop Junior Cup took place at Squashworld Cambridge recently on the 13th and 14th of September. It was a weekend of intense matches and rivalries. There was 44 total entries, 4 in our novice event. All together, we had 3 divisions, each including 4 teams of 3-4 players. Teams were selected based on ability, and a round robin format kept things exciting, as nobody was out of contention until the final results came in.
Click HERE to read more. |
43rd Australian Masters Squash Championships and Trans-Tasman Test Series
Thanks Tournament Director Roger Campbell!
This year it was WA’s turn to host the Australian Masters Squash Championship. The Championships were played from 2 to 13 September at Squashworld Mirrabooka. The format was changed this year to have a 3-day Individual Championships held over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, followed by the Teams event from Tuesday to Saturday. It was also Australia’s turn to host the Bi-Annual Trans-Tasman Series, which involved three test matches held around the Individual Championships. We therefore ended up with 12 days of intense competition.
Click HERE to read more. |
Country Week - 59 years and going strong!
While we will be covering Country Week in full in the next edition, here's a sneak peak of some of the fun and camaraderie that went down last weekend.
Click HERE to see the results and a few photo highlights. |
Ref's Rule
Thanks Neil Butler
Squash is played in a confined space, often at high speed. Two principles are essential for orderly play:
- Safety: Players must always place safety first and not take any action that could endanger the opponent.
- Fair play: Players must respect the Officials and the opponent and play with honesty.
The rules are not only for referees but also for players.
How many can put their hand on their heart and say “I have read the rules”?
Click HERE to read more. |
Ahhhh...CHOO! Yep, Spring has sprung!
Apart from the hay-fever we've all been looking forward to, it also means all your favourite competitions are kicking off!
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Contributions to the SWAN are welcome. We LOVE to hear about events, awards, funny stories, and more! Simply send an email to squashwanewsletter@gmail.com. |
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