1997 - Bob TUCKETT
Bob TUCKETT (1997)
Bob commenced playing table tennis in 1966 at the age of 12 at Alan Creighton’s club in Croydon. Alan was Bob’s first and only coach. He took Bob to tournaments and encouraged him to play junior pennant. Bob made quick progress and first represented Victoria at the 1968 Australian Championships in Hobart. He represented Victoria as a junior (U/18) from 1968-1971 and as a senior from 1971-1975 & 1978-1984. He represented NSW in 1976 & 1977.
Bob represented Australia 120 times at 7 World Championships (1973, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 & 85), 5 Asian Championships (1974, 78, 80, 82 & 84) & 7 Commonwealth Championships ( 1973, 75, 77, 79, 82, 83 & 85). He represented Australia on 277 occasions overall. Bob was a member of the Australian team that came 12th in the world in 1979 - Australia’s highest ever position.
He won:
22 International medals including:
i) Commonwealth Championships
a) 3 x silver medals Men’s Doubles (1973, 1975, 1977)
b) 1 x silver medal Men’s Teams (1975)
c) 3 x bronze medals Men’s Teams (1973, 1977, 1979)
d) 1 x bronze medal Men’s Doubles (1979)
ii) Asian Championships
a) 2 x bronze medals Men’s Teams (1974, 1978)
iii) Scottish Open
a) 1 x gold medal Men’s Singles (1980)
b) 1 x gold medal Men’s Doubles (1980)
iv) Irish Open
a) 1 x gold medal Men’s Singles (1978)
b) 1 x gold medal Men’s Doubles (1978)
c) 1 x gold medal Men's Teams (1978)
v) Luxembourg International
a) 1 x gold medal Men’s Singles (1977)
b) 1 x gold medal Men’s Doubles (1977)
16 National titles including:
i) Australian Open
a) Junior Men's Singles champion (1970)
b) Singles Men's champion (1979)
c) Doubles Men's champion (1974, 1976, 1981)
ii) Australian Top Ten champion (1976. 1977, 1979)
Numerous State & Territory titles including:
i) Victorian Open
a) Junior Men's Singles champion (1970, 1971)
b) Men's Singles champion (1981)
ii) NSW Open
a) Men's Singles champion (1976)
iii) Tasmanian Open
a) Junior Men's Singles champion (1968)
b) Men's Singles champion (1968)
iv) ACT Open
a) Men's Singles champion (1977)
Administration
International:
- Honorary CEO of Oceania Table Tennis Federation: (1991-1992)
- ITTF representative at the South Pacific Games in Lae, Papua New Guinea (1991)
National:
- National Selector (1987-1993)
- Editor of Australian Table Tennis (1992-1994)
- Convener of the National League committee (1992-1994)
- NPC of Australian Men's team (1990 Asian Championships) (1991 Commonwealth & World Championships) (1991 Olympic Qualifying Tournament) (2000 Commonwealth & World Team Championships) (2001 Commonwealth & World Championships) (1988 & 2000 Oceania Championships)
- Manager of Australian team at Commonwealth & World Championships (2000, 2001)
- Member of the Organising Committee (1994 World Veterans Championships) (Melbourne 1992-1994)
- Head Coach (2000 Olympic Games)
- National Coach (2000-2001)
State:
- TTV Preseident (November 1993- March 2000)
- Victorian Delegate to TTA (1994-1999)
- Victorian Delegate to Australian Table Tennis Academy (1988-1989)
- Victorian Delegate to Victorian Olympic Council (1994-1999)
- Victorian Delegate to Vicsport (1994-2000)
- VTTA committee member (1983-1988)
- VTTA senior selector (1986-1988)
- Victorian senior & junior NPC (1985)
Awards:
- TTA Player of the Year Award (1973, 1977, 1979)
- TTA Junior Player of the Year Award (1970)
- TTV Player of the Year Award (1971 & 1979)
- TTV Junior Player of the Year Award (1968, 1970)
- TTA Open Hall of Fame (2020)
- TTV Open Hall of Fame (2010)
- TTV Junior Hall of Fame (2015)
- TTA Life Member (2003)
- TTV Life Member (1997)
- St Kilda Cricket Table Tennis Club Life Member (2008)
- Australian Sports Medal (2000)
Bob’s conduct, characterised by demonstrating good sportsmanship, acting within the spirit of the game, attitude, and behaviour, being a positive role model, etiquette, and adherence to the laws of the game is a positive example for others to follow
