In the serene countryside of Albury/Wodonga, the Geering family has found an unexpected passion for table tennis. Brothers Max and Levi Geering have been carving their niche in the sport, supported by their dedicated parents, Paul and Susie. 

The journey began quite unassumingly but has since blossomed into a story of perseverance, community support, and familial bond. 

Max recalls their humble start with a smile. 

"We actually started at a caravan park on a family holiday,” he said. 

“We picked up the bat there and just had a hit and really enjoyed it so we went back and had a go at the Albury/Wodonga table tennis club."  

It was an unintentional beginning that turned into a serious pursuit though growing up in Albury/Wodonga presented its own unique challenges and opportunities.  

"In Albury, it's a bit different to in the city where training is much more common," Levi said.  

"The club has been very good to us, opening up the stadium allowing us to train and prepare for big tournaments."  

Balancing school, training, and social lives isn't easy and so the brothers have developed their own strategies to maximise their training effectiveness. 

"You try and fit in your training as you go," Max shared.  

"Obviously, other stuff may come first on the priority list but it's always good to come down and try and get a bit of hours in."  

"We also have quite different playing styles," Levi explained.  

"For example, if we are blocking for each other, we block differently to allow for more variance. This way it can feel like we're training with different players." 

Pressure is another aspect they handle adeptly. Their calm approach has helped them to stay focused during critical matches. 

"It's always important to keep a cool head - sometimes I like to walk around, take a few deep breaths, destress” stated Max. 

The Albury/Wodonga community support has been instrumental in their success and meeting their goals. 

"The club has always been good to us, giving us training sessions and a key so we can access the space," Max said.  

"Our main goal is just to get to the highest level we can, training with top players from across the country," Levi stated. 

Their parents, Paul and Susie, have been pivotal in their journey as players.  

"They first played in a small town called Tallangatta,” Susie reminisced. 

“We all had a go at table tennis at the caravan park, and the boys thought it was really fun.  

“Then someone suggested the local comp, and they just took off from there.”  

Along with the parental support, the contributions from coach Sam Palmer have been critical.

"Sam has been their coach since day one,” Paul explained. 

“He comes up roughly once a month and stays with us, conducting training sessions.  

“Even this weekend, he's coaching their games remotely from Melbourne whilst they compete at the Country Championships." 

Balancing emotions as parents of competitive athletes is a challenge, but Susie and Paul manage it with grace.  

"We want them to win their age division, but at the end of the day, we just want them to be happy," Susie said.  

So what advice do Susie and Paul have for other parents when it comes to getting their children involved in local sporting competitions? 

"Let the children guide their passion,” stated Paul. 

“The joy we've gotten out of it is seeing them love something - I don't care what sport it is as long as they love it and continue to gain enjoyment out of it," added Susie. 

The Geering family's story is a testament to the power of community, the importance of passion, and the strength of family support. As Max and Levi continue their journey in table tennis, they do so with a solid foundation built by their own dedication and the unwavering support of their parents and community. 

Make sure to look out for Max & Levi who will next be competing at the 2024 National Championships in Mandurah from July 7-14.