about The German table tennis club
Fostering the development of the German community in South Australia through social and competitive Table Tennis in an inclusive environment since 1958.
Announcement: Join our growing club
Our Mission & Vision
The German Table Tennis Club Inc. by providing an inclusive social environment aims
- To encourage, promote, and administer the German Table Tennis Club
- To arrange and conduct table tennis training, practice and competitions
- To foster the development of the German community in South Australia
for the enjoyment of all interested parties and the community.
Dawn of a New Era
Creating a Community and Sporting Hub – German and Woodville District Table Tennis Clubs coming together to create a new future.
“Expanding the table tennis clubs and creating a multicultural facility for community use”
The Master Plan which documents the vision of both Clubs aims to create a new multicultural community facility. It will support German culture promotion, cater for table tennis players and spectator needs and will be a new facility for social use by the local community. There are numerous health benefits and in particular table tennis is a sport that has no age limit. The plans are currently being implemented with completion aimed for 2026.
Why Join GTTC?
Until the end of 2018, Club practice was held in the Friedrich Jahn Gymnasium on four tables, generally followed by refreshments in the bar downstairs. Club practice was moved to the Woodville District Table Tennis Clubrooms in 2020 following the sale of the SA German Association Flinders Street premises and relocation to a small Scout Hall in Brooklyn Park. This new home for the Association was not able to accommodate table tennis, hence the move to Woodville Park.
The Club is affiliated with Table Tennis SA and a number of members compete in its winter pennant competitions, both for the Club and other table tennis clubs. The Club organises quite a few social activities with our weekly meals, exchanges with other clubs and our Christmas dinners being the highlights of the year. All Table tennis enthusiasts, whether beginner or “pro”, are invited to come and see us for a trial. Following the trial, all ongoing participating players must be Club members.
Club History
The Table tennis group has been part of the South Australian German Association (SAADV) since 1958. Its loyal members have varied annually from a previously capped number of 15 to this year’s record number of 36. The increase was possible by adding the additional Thursday night training period to the long existing traditional Monday nights. Players range from teenagers through to veterans and from beginners through to members with some past players ranked in Australia’s top 100.
Notable achievements by German Table Tennis Club Members include
- Jenny Burford – 10 times Australian Doubles Champion
- Gus Bigalske and Lloyd Bonner – 2 times Australian Doubles Champion
- Several members represented Australia and South Australia throughout the Club’s history.
Until the end of 2018, Club practice was held in the Friedrich Jahn Gymnasium on four tables, generally followed by refreshments in the bar downstairs. Club practice was moved to the Woodville District Table Tennis Clubrooms in 2020 following the sale of the SA German Association Flinders Street premises and relocation to a small Scout Hall in Brooklyn Park. This new home for the Association was not able to accommodate table tennis, hence the move to Woodville Park.
The Club is affiliated with Table Tennis SA and a number of members compete in its winter pennant competitions, both for the Club and other table tennis clubs.
During the 1970’s, 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Club rotated table tennis challenges with the German Club Tivoli based at 291 Dandenong Road, Prahran Victoria.
The German Table Tennis Group always supported the SA German Association through volunteering to enable community events to be held. These included Schutzenfest, Oktoberfest and other minor events. The Club set up and managed several stalls at the Schutzenfest held in Hahndorf and Adelaide including Kartoffelpuffer cooking, harte ecke (spirits) sales in the early years and more recently German beers including cans and bottles.
Germans and their descendants have always been an important part of South Australia, both culturally and economically, and the German Association for over 121 years has given guidance, inspiration, comfort and companionship to its members and the German community as well as contributing richly to the cultural diversity of South Australia. The German Table Tennis Club is continuing this tradition through both sport and its social activities. Long may this continue.
Club Membership Details:
Club membership is determined at the Annual General Meeting and is currently as below.
Annual membership fee:
$85
Practice nightly fee:
$6
Regular Membership Period:
Jan 1st through Dec 31st
Important Documents:
Annual Reports, membership application, and other documents.
Annual Reports:
2023 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
2018 Annual Report
Membership Application:
Current – GTTC Inc – Membership Application
Additional Documents:
Proposed Redevelopment June 2024
Revised & Registered GTTC Constitution
TTSA Code of Conduct
Membership history since 1976
Want to Join The Club?
The German Table Tennis Club strives to attract both German and Non-German visitors to the Club to experience German culture including playing table tennis and social hospitality. You are invited to experience an evening with us as a guest to determine if joining our Club meets your expectations.