The 2021 Paralympics are on the horizon, and in just over four months we will get to see some of Australia’s most talented, courageous, and hardworking Para-athletes give it their all in Tokyo as they try and bring home some medals.

Participation in para sports can be tough - there can be very limited opportunities.

However, down at The Hangar in Tullamarine (also the training base of the Essendon Football Club) there is a program that goes under the radar of a lot of people.

The para participation program at The Hangar is open to all para players, regardless of ability or classification. Whether you are Dani Di Toro training for the Paralympics or someone giving para table tennis a go for the first time, it’s an all-inclusive program that welcomes anyone.

The program is run by Mick Tomlinson - many people within the table tennis community in Victoria and Australia will know Mick and the tremendous amount of work he has put into para participation and training over the years.

At just 17, Mick suffered a serious accident that nearly resulted in the loss of both his legs. Once out of hospital and back to work, Mick was still unable to play any sport. He took up table tennis after a suggestion by one of his co-workers as he was beating everyone at work. Soon enough, Mick started playing competitively at clubs such as Sunbury and Coburg.

It was not until Lenny Power and his wife Barbara (who were classifiers for the Paralympics) said to him “Mick -  look at your legs, you’re disabled”, and explained he may have a chance at representing Australia that Mick decided to get classified and play in his first para competition.

Mick travelled quite a bit with the Australian team and developed a great rivalry with Paralympian David Moffatt from Adelaide. Once Roger Massey took on the role as Para Head Coach, things started improving in the para team.

“Roger introduced new programs, the players worked with psychologists and dieticians. They worked on different training methods and the Para team started improving and becoming really good” said Tomlinson.

Thanks to his great relationship with Massey and the experience he developed over the years, Mick started coaching at Coburg. Eventually he received an offer from the Australian Paralympic Committee to coach at The Hangar, and with their great facilities and eight tables set up for coaching, it was a fantastic opportunity.

Mick now coaches the para table tennis at The Hangar every Sunday, whether he has ten people wanting to train or two.

“We have many different players of various abilities and classifications - some have intellectual disabilities, and some have physical disabilities, anyone is welcome,” said Mick.

“We have Dani Di Toro who is a class 4, another class 5 player in a wheelchair, there are two new guys coming up from Dandenong every Sunday. Anyone that wants to give it a try can come down get some help with everything from basics, training to learning how to get classified” he said.

Mick has helped numerous para players not only learn the game and develop a love for table tennis but has also helped provide an unofficial pathway for para players to try and make the Australian team, thanks to his great relationship with Alois Rosario and the National Para Team.

“The work Mick and others have done for para participation for table tennis in Victoria over the years has been nothing short of incredible. In 2018, TTV awarded Mick the ‘Guggenheim Award’ for being Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his efforts and he’s carried on that great work” said TTV CEO, Ritchie Hinton.

"It is extremely encouraging to see people in our sport doing their best to ensure people of all abilities can play table tennis.

“We look forward to working with Mick in the future to provide as much support for Victorian para players as possible.”

If you or anyone you know would be interested in learning more about para table tennis, please contact Mick or TTV for more information.

Mick Tomlinson – 0430 518 305