SQUASH AND RACQUETBALL VICTORIA | People You Should Know: Bob Vezina

FROM SQUASH and RACQUETBALL VICTORIA
 

Tell us about you? When, where and how did a Canadian end up in Australia and get involved with squash?

"Having grown up in Northern Ontario,Canada, my sporting activities were generally limited to ice hockey and snow skiing during the 6-month winter season, and baseball during the 6-month summer season."

"Having left home at 15 years old and joining the Circus/Carnival I travelled throughout Canada and USA until arriving in Australia, 2o years old, having spent the previous year in New Zealand.  In my late 20s while working as a Marketing Manager for a great Australian company, Sellotape, I was asked if I would like to play in the annual company squash tournament.  My immediate response was: “What is that a vegetable?”

"I took up the invitation and like all first-time squash players, ran around on the court, chasing the ball like a chicken with its head cut off!  All was not lost however, as some of the skills I learned as a goalie playing ice hockey and a catcher playing baseball, helped me find the middle of the squash racquet slightly more often than I found the frame." 

When, why and how long ago did you come to the decision to build a squash court in your house?

"I was so taken in by this fantastic game, that it virtually took me over.   Fortunately, at the time, I lived opposite the Brandon Park Squash Centre (now a Subaru dealership – not an apartment building like most other squash courts around Melbourne). My regular routine was to zip home straight after work, get changed and run to the squash courts, which in the early years, I did only 4 days a week, not 6 or 7 days some years later. Nick Altouvasprovided me free access to the courts because I was heavily involved in the club and took on the role of match & pennant chairperson for quite a number of years.  In those days, Brandon Park squash centre( 12 courts)fielded 60 or so teams across the state, SSL, Friday morning women’s, and Saturday Junior competitions.  Wow!  Where did that all go?"

"During this time, I was breaking a lot of strings in my racquet due to mishits of course, so I decided to purchase a restringing machine and teach myself how to string racquets.  My plan was to develop a small restringing business that I could manage after my normal professional working hours.  After a few years, I was satisfied with my stringing ability(no improvement on my squash ability!) and began providing a stringing, pickup and delivery service to a number of squash courts around Melbourne. "

"Eventually, I was unable to grow Tension 24 and manage my professional employment with the same degree of commitment so Liz and I decided to take the leap and open a full time retail racquet sports business.  Liz was the smart one – she kept her fulltime job and financially supported our business until it was eventually able to cover its costs. "

"We decided to locate our retail business in Waverley because of the great number of squash courts in and around the area as well as the overwhelming number of tennis courts.  Squash, on its own, in a retail environment, without squash courts, was not a viable business. Our Business plan with the inclusion of Tennis, Badminton, Racquetball and Table Tennis was more secure."

"Our first store was on Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley, virtually beside Waverley Squash Centre. We chose that location because we found a very small store (I had to go outside to change my mind!) with a very attractive rent."

"A few years later, we moved 2 doors down into a much larger store, in order to offer a fullindoor demo facility for tennis, squash, racquetball and badminton.  Tension 24 was the first retail store in the country to offer this type of indoor demo area." 

You have run a sports/stringing business for years (Tension 24)…tell us about it and some of the people or stories of who has walked in your door or you’ve gotten to know.

"One day a friend of mine visited our store with a very young junior squash player on the rise, by the name of Sarah Fitz-Gerald AM. She turned out alright, I think!  and ultimately became a much better squash player than me! HaHa. The truth is I’ve never considered myself to be a very good squash player, but rather a competitive individual, with an uncontrollable passion and desire to play squash."

"During 1989 we opened another store at the magnificent King Club in Wantirna, featuring 3 squash courts, 5 US style racquetball courts, one indoor and 5 outdoor tennis courts, as well as gym, swim and restaurant/bar and 5 star motel.  In the early 90s the Australian Squash Championships were played on the all glass court set up on the indoor tennis court at the King Club with excellent spectator capacity.This was a historic event for a number of reasons, not the least of which was Rodney Martin defeated the great Jansher Khan. "

"Tension 24 has strung squash racquets for many of the top Australian and international squash players" 

"The most recent and final move for our business, Tension 24, was to our current location at 629 High Street Rd, Mt Waverley.  Coincidentally, this location is directly opposite the original Syndal Squash Court Centre with 8 courts.  Sadly those courts have also fallen victim to the high demand forproperties located near train stations.  A 12 storey apartment complex is about to be constructed on the site. "

"During the 35 years of our retail activity, we have never closed for more than 2 weeks at a time, generally during Christmas and Easter periods.  2020 has been a very challenging year for all Australians and in particular Victorians due to the extreme shut down we all endured.  Tension 24 closed its doors in the last week of March, re-opened briefly for 2 weeks in July and then closed until late October 2020."

What professionals, world class players or interesting characters have played on your home court?

"As my passion for squash continued, I found out about a house in Wheelers Hill with a squash court! At that time, there was no way we could afford to purchase such a house, however, I did clip out the real estate advertisement with the picture of the house and pinned it on the wall in my home office.  Reluctantly, I’ll tell you, I spent countless hours staring and dreaming at that picture.  In early 2000 I knocked on the owner’s door with the same picture and asked if the house was for sale. Rob, the owner at the time almost passed out as he thought someone had advertised his home for sale! To his relief I  explained that the picture was from years ago,the conversation went on from there.  A few years later, we acquired the home and havesince thoroughly enjoyed it.  While our 3 sonsdid not have the same passion for squash that I still do, our squash court has remained fully booked for many activities, including basketball, workout area, table tennis, kids parties, nerf gun wars etc., never a dull moment.  I’m certain our squash court has been utilised more than our kitchen and that is saying a lot when you consider the amount of food 3 teenage boys can consume. The court has been a great source of entertainment for our children and their friends."

"We have also been fortunate to have welcomed a few world champions to ourhome court. Sarah Fitz-Gerald AM, Duracell Bunny (Datuk) Nicole David DB PJN DSPN KMN AMN as well as Vicki Cardwell BEM (nee Hoffmann). During the 2017 Victorian Squash Championships played at Mulgrave Country Club we had the pleasure of hosting 4 international players from India, Hong Kong, Dubai and Egypt respectively. Harinder Pal Singh Sandu from India won the final in 77 minutes to our local Australian Open Champion Rex Hedrick. There have also been many occasions that we hosted club circuit competitions. One of those evenings not to be forgotten was the evening the Victorian Police set up their booze bus on Wellington Road and while lifting the light tower, proceeded to hit the powerlines, resulting in a power failure throughout Mulgrave, including the Mulgrave Country Club.  As it happened, it was a home night for me so after the 2nd game of the first rubber, we packed up and headed off to my place. We won with the home court advantage! The power was restored in the early hours of the next morning and the fire department put out the flaming police vehicle that literally burnt to the ground!  What a night!"

How have you kept busy or motivated during COVID lockdown?

"Our lockdown time was not wasted as we took the opportunity to do some shop and home improvements.  Liz had a very long list of home improvements, which were completed, however, I’m happy to say the first task I completed was removing the old fluoro tube lighting and replacing it with 9 very bright LEDs for the squash court.  WOW! What a difference.  The only problem was then I could see all the marks on the walls and so naturally they had to cleaned. Then come home improvements, Sorry Liz,  xo."

"Fortunately during the lockdown our stock did not perish, (we really feel for the food and entertainment operators who lost stock on two occasions) and upon reopening, we were able to hit the ground/court running.  We are very excited to experience the enthusiasm and desire of squashies to get back on the court.  Hopefully, with good management and no further lockdowns, we can begin to understand what the “new normal” will look like.  Whatever the case, squash is roaring back!"