Cheryl Rawle won the ladies’ doubles with partner Liz Barker. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
How do you keep winning tournaments when you’re past retirement age, lost your pace and your recent years have been consumed by family tragedy?
Veteran Griffith tennis coach Cheryl Rawle, 68, once again showed what you have between your ears can be your most important asset, winning gold in the ladies’ doubles event with partner and nurse Liz Barker at the annual Barellan Masters Games on the weekend.
“It’s very confronting to one’s ego when you can’t do things you used to do,” Rawle said.
“I’m a bit slower but I can still play with people’s heads. I place the ball carefully, bring them into the net, send them back, I slice and target their backhand. I love volleying to upset people’s rhythm. That’s where the fun is, I craft a point like you’d write a good book.”
Rawle says the sudden death of her son-in-law Callam two years ago made her appreciate the good in her life.
“I gave him CPR for well over half an hour alongside my pregnant daughter Megan, but it didn’t work,” she said.
”Megan travelled in the ambulance with her deceased partner late at night and gave birth to a baby girl the next morning.
“Since then, I haven’t had much free time, my daughter lives in Queensland and I go up there to support her every holiday … but staying active has been great for my mental health during the adverse situations in my life.
“I get up early every day, I go to the gym three times a week and I’ve kept coaching the Griffith East squad of junior players.
“As soon as you stop doing things, you’re buggered. I love living. I’ve had a tough life but I appreciate still being here and I’m ready to greet each day with a bounce.”
Veteran Robyn Meehan put up a good fight against Cheryl Rawle. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
On the court, Rawle’s mouth is as active as her forearm.
“She got into my head before the match started and I couldn’t get her out, she is the world’s best sledger,” defeated opponent Candace Prudham said.
Rawle said: “I love the chat, I gave a few ripping sledges. People gasped as if to say, ‘You can’t say those sorts of things’ but when I grew up, sport was all about having fun.
“I was raised on a farm in Wakool. Life was always a battle for my parents, but like me, they always gave 110 per cent and never gave up.”
Andrew Noad, her Griffith East colleague, also showed plenty of fighting spirit to win the men’s singles final 6-3 against Lachlan Date, coming back from 3-1 down.
But Date reclaimed the ‘‘Master Blaster’’ title he won in 2024, for the athlete who achieves the most across the various sports played at the games.
Lachlan Date retained his Master Blaster title. Photo: Supplied.
The Griffith primary school teacher won the men’s doubles tennis with rice farmer Nathan Crowley and triumphed in the triathlon for the second consecutive year.
“I was coming sixth when we finished the swimming, the first leg,” he said. ”The transition was slow, I came equal second in the bike ride. I finally got into first place a kilometre and a half into the run.”
Date paid tribute to tournament organiser Carl Chirgwin and tennis organiser Louise Hornery, saying they both did a fantastic job. He has vowed to return next year to see whether he can complete his hat-trick of Master Blaster wins.
The Barellan Masters Games is held every year over the last weekend in February. The tournament has raised more than $200,000 for the small town during the 13 years it has been run.
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