2020 has been tough year for sport and for table tennis. With no tournaments or events for the majority of the year the Table Tennis Victoria staff and board have not had many opportunities to attend events and interact with our members.

We have taken this chance to ask our team five fast questions to get to know them a little better, what their goals for table tennis are and some interesting things you may not have known about them.

This week we spoke to TTV Participation & Programs Officer Sean Sturrock.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

"I Grew up in the Western suburb of Williamstown before moving to Moonee Ponds for most of my childhood and teenage years. Mum's from England and the majority of my family lives in the UK & America, I so many fond memories spending holidays over there every 2-3 years visiting family & friends.

"I Did majority of my schooling and university studies in the West before having a few “Gap Years” playing cricket in England and travelling before settling back in Melbourne and back into working again."

What brought you to TTV?

"I’ve always worked in the Sports Industry whether it be with public or private school sporting programs, local council sporting branches in the local communities or setting up and running weekend sporting programs for juniors across the nation.

"Rolling all those life skills and experience into my role TTV and gaining knowledge in such a popular sport in a professional environment I can see this role and my future having great upskill and ceiling in this organisation. The systems and processes in place make for an exciting future in the sport post COVID-19."  

What goals do you have for table tennis in Vic?

"It would be great to establish a solid Entry Level Program that TTA and TTV can hang their hat on and really start to see younger people engage in the sport both in the schooling system and watching them progress into our Clubs and Associations which are our life blood.

"Finding different avenues to attract people into the sport, whether it being in the social scene through Pub League, Pop-Up Events or Corporate Cup, starting to get Table Tennis in the front of people’s minds is the goal. We will continue supporting the Sporting Schools program with the re-launch of the School Sport Victoria Primary School Table Tennis Competition and keep going with the growth into the development of digital programs and services with the assistance with VicSport."   

What are your outside interests?

"All through my life I played every sport I could, Football, Soccer, Basketball, Golf (poorly), Cricket and Table Tennis of course. Going to the MCG to watch whatever game is on and taking in the atmosphere (bars).  I can't wait to start travelling again once the world opens up again and start hitting the wineries around Victoria."

Can you tell us a few things that might surprise us about you?

"I have Been lucky enough to travel the world playing Cricket in; England, Fiji, Thailand, Hong Kong (China), Singapore, India, UAE & USA playing on the MCG & Lord Cricket Ground multiple times.

"I have also met the Queen while playing at one of the cricket grounds in the UK that she hold’s as part of her estate."