Tim Bennetts takes the opportunity to hit a ball during a Guys and Games session, but sport and games are optional for the support group for men with Parkinson’s disease. Photos: Thomas Lucraft.
It’s hard for Tim Bennett to watch his tennis game get progressively worse due to his Parkinson’s disease, but there are few better places to deal with the frustration than at Manuka Tennis Club, surrounded by other members of ‘Guys and Games’.
It’s the whole reason the support group exists.
“From time to time, it can feel like it’s too much and you really need to talk to someone. Partners and friends help up to a point, but sometimes it’s just good to talk to someone who shares the experience,” he said.
The Canberra man was a keen player before his diagnosis 12 years ago. One day over lunch, he and a friend, Martin Pikler, were lamenting the lack of support groups for men with Parkinson’s and decided to do something about it.
Given the research showed that physical activity could slow the disease’s progression, they decided to attach the “games” element to the fortnightly meet-ups, but it needed to remain inclusive and fundamentally more about support than anything else.
The group now meets fortnightly at the club, and while there is the opportunity to swing a racquet in a social environment, members play everything from tennis to Scrabble to nothing at all.
“This is not a tennis group, it’s a men’s group where we can meet in a relaxed outdoor setting and where playing tennis is an option,” Tim explained.
“Sometimes we just chat, share information, talk about how Parkinson’s is affecting us at different points in time and just generally support each other.
“The thing is that Parkinson’s progresses differently in each case, so you don’t know how it’s going to go for you. While a neurologist and GP will tell you what you need to know medically, there are a number of questions that can arise in the journey. A member once helped me navigate the NDIS claims process and at the last session, someone was looking for recommendations for a good neurologist.
“Over time, we’ve become friends.”
For those who do want to have a go on the court, sessions are run by a coach trained in teaching people with disabilities. But that aspect is not about making anyone a good tennis player – it’s about improving movement.
Manuka Tennis Club president Bill Brummitt says the group is one of a few good examples of the kinds of community-led initiatives the club fosters, especially during the under-utilised periods outside of school hours.
He says while the small four-court club doesn’t have the capacity to run big tournaments like larger clubs, it looks to add value to the community by hosting programs that encourage participation and inclusivity.
This includes a coach-run Special Olympics program for intellectually disabled players and the non-competitive Ladies Who Volley program, which was recognised by Tennis ACT as an innovative way to encourage more women to play.
“We’re very proud of all of these programs. They’re all part of a bigger picture, and we’re keen to get the message out to community groups out there looking to try something different: we’re here for it,” Bill said.
“We don’t think of our club as just four tennis courts but also a boutique venue in a beautiful and central location that can be used by the community in a variety of ways.
“Guys and Games is a great example – you have a group of people, some of whom have an opportunity to enjoy a court game and others who come for socialisation. That’s why it’s called Guys and Games, not Guys and Tennis.”
For information on these groups and more, visit Manuka Tennis Club.
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