1962 - Dr. Victor FRENCH
Dr. Victor FRENCH (1962)
Victor French was a founding member of the Coburg Harriers Table Tennis club in 1948 & was the inaugural Club Secretary in 1949. He was instrumental in the club having its own clubrooms in Urquart St Coburg, outside of the South East corner of Pentridge Prison.
In 1954 he was elected as President of the Coburg TTC club. Vic also did 2 terms as VTTA President between 1968 & 1973. He served on the VTTA Executive Committee prior to 1958 and was VTTA (Victorian Table Tennis Association) Vice President in 1959.
He was a successful dentist, who joined his father Victor, and younger brother Ron in their Sydney Road Coburg practice. Vic was heavily involved with Rotary. He was President of the Coburg Rotary Club and later promoted to District area 980 Governor for many rotary Clubs. Which included sister Rotary clubs in Asia + some Island Community Groups. After moving to Queensland, he joined the Brisbane City rotary club. He is a ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ within Rotary which is a prestigious honour.
As a Table Tennis player, Vic was a -long-time pennant player for Coburg playing high levels. He won the Coburg Club Doubles Championship in 1950 with his partner M. Lee. Vic was Manager for several Australian touring teams, including a visit to the Asian Championships held in Japan. He was involved in the sport of Table Tennis for over 35 years.
He is credited for Table Tennis Victoria moving to the disused Military sheds in Albert Park which were to become the largest table tennis center in the world at the time with over forty tables in operation. He also met with Queen Elizabeth the 2nd in 1970 as the sports representative.
Coburg TTC awarded him Life Membership in 1957 He was and is still regarded as a dedicated President of Coburg Table tennis Club. In 1962 he was awarded Life Membership with TTV.
In 1958 Vic donated 100 pounds to VTTA and the annual interest earnings to provide an Annual Award to be known as the FRENCH AWARD – for Victoria’s Senior player of the year. This was to change in later years to the French Award for Victoria’s Female and Make players of the year. It is the most prestigious award in Victorian Table Tennis.
1959 – Coburg TTC old club rooms were damaged by fire – The club's B3 team of Jim Kilderry, Geoff Pickford Rod Drake continued to play weekly pennant under the Coburg banner, using Vic’s house as its home ground in Bell Street Pascoe Vale.
Victor was the main instigator in arranging for the Rosario family to move to Melbourne. He organised accommodation for them to live in & many other things. Vic was forever spoken of very highly by the Rosario family. Vic served on the Essendon /Penleigh grammar school & parents committee + many other community committees.
Vic's wife Lindsay (Lyn) died in 1969. Together they had two children Beverley & Jim. Vic did remarry. Yon (Jan) & he and his new family moved to Brisbane. His stepson Ralph took French as his surname and is a successful Dentist in Queensland. Vic was honored with an MBE on the 2nd of June 1973, for his Service to the Community.
He will forever be known as a man ahead of his time, astute, a good leader of people yet gentle & intelligent. A gentleman in the true sense. Victor French MBE passed away on May 4th, 1993 aged seventy-two. His contribution to the sport of Table Tennis will never be forgotten.
