In This Month's NewsLetter👇:

🎙️ Executive UPDate - President Report: QLD Growth, Gratitude to Committee Members, & HUGE Membership Milestone!

🎯 Tournament Desk: QPT update, QPC info, & Tournament Tips - How to Enter, Code of Behaviour, Paddle Legality

🦾 Club Support: Health & Exercise, Personal Insurance Cover, & Club Grants - Yes, MONEY!

🤗 PickleBALL Community Heroes: Inspiring Malanda Pickleballers Who Will Totally ROCK You!

👨‍🏫 PickleCOACH:  Check Out Our Hot PAQ Coaching Tips for Singles & Doubles Play, AND Great Drills

🤯 DUPR Explained: Must-Read Article!  7 Myths to Stop Believing about DUPR

🔥 PRESIDENT REPORT: Pickleball Queensland Is BOOMING!🚀

G’day everyone!

It’s been another exciting and fast-moving period for pickleball in Queensland, with standout tournaments, incredible volunteer support, and continued growth across the state.

🚀 Record-Breaking Growth: 7,000+ Members

And finally - some huge news for pickleball in Queensland…

PAQ has officially surpassed 7,000 members in March!

This milestone represents incredible growth and is a testament to the passion and dedication of our:

• Players
• Clubs
• Venues
• Volunteers

Across every corner of the state, the pickleball community continues to thrive - and this is just the beginning.

🎖️ Recognising Outstanding Service to Pickleball Queensland

A sincere thank you to Michelle Jones, who has stepped down from both the PAQ Committee and her role as Secretary after many years of outstanding service.

Michelle’s contribution to Pickleball Queensland (PAQ) has been immense. In recognition of her dedication, the committee proudly awarded her Five Years Honorary Membership - a small token of appreciation for a truly significant impact.

We also extend our thanks to Adrian Gray and Lauren Clemett, who have stepped down from the committee. Their time, energy, and commitment to growing pickleball in Queensland have been greatly valued, and we wish them all the best moving forward.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Welcoming Our New PAQ Secretary

Following Michelle’s departure, I’m pleased to welcome Emma Fitzwilliam as the new PAQ Secretary, filling the casual vacancy until the AGM.

Emma has already made a strong contribution supporting our tournaments team, and I’m confident she will do an outstanding job in this important role.

👨 Expanding Our Juniors Pathway

I’m also pleased to welcome Charl van der Merwe to the PAQ Committee, who will fill a casual vacancy and lead our Juniors Pathway portfolio.

Charl brings strong energy and a clear vision for developing junior participation across Queensland, and his regional base in Yeppoon further strengthens our statewide approach.

📝 Rules Reminder for Tournament Players - Know The CORRECT Way to Serve!

See You on the Courts!

Dan Johnson
President

Tournament Desk: Queensland Pickleball Tour & Queensland Pickleball Championship UPDATE

🏆QPT Update

Wow! The first quarter of the year has already flown by!

QPT Gold Coast:

As you may know, the Gold Coast event has been rescheduled to 10-12 July due to the weather, because apparently even pickleball can't outplay 100% rain! ⛈

For more information, click HERE or register HERE

First QPT Event of 2026 Kicked Off in Gladstone - What A Start It Was!

• 16 beautiful courts
• 128 players
• 381 matches
• 3 big days of competition

A BIG congrats to everyone who played in Gladstone - and a special shoutout to those who stepped onto the tournament court for the very first time. That takes courage, and we LOVE seeing it!

And then...we had something pretty special...

Two 👑 Triple Crown Winners in Krystle Bower and Wayne Hanrahan - winning three events in one tournament is not a small feat!

👏Huge achievement to both of you - consistency, endurance, and skill across formats. That’s what a Triple Crown is all about, with both players delivering outstanding performances across multiple divisions, reflecting the rising standard of pickleball competition in Queensland.

And a huge congratulations to Gavan Hunter and team for delivering a magnificent inaugural tournament, and to Rhett McKinnon for running such a smooth event.

📅 What’s Coming Up

The next few months are busy - just how we like it!

🏓Upcoming QPT Events in Townsville & Mackay in May 2026:

Looking for two unforgettable May weekends full of fun, competition, and Queensland adventure? 

Register now for the Queensland Pickleball Tour (QPT) Townsville 15-17 May, and Mackay 30-31 May

These tournaments provide the perfect opportunity to compete at all levels, improve your DUPR rating, and connect with the growing pickleball community.

Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a social player craving competitive play, this is your chance to compete in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in a friendly, welcoming environment. With friendly competition on the courts and unforgettable Queensland experiences off them, both these tournament weekends deliver the perfect blend of sport and adventure. 

Don’t wait to secure your spots, and get prepared for two terrific action-packed pickleball weekends that are social AND scenic!

For more info and registration details, click 👉HERE

👉 QPT Townsville

📅 15–17 May

👉QPT Mackay
📅 30–31 May

Want to enter Townsville or Mackay, but have no idea what your non-playing partner can do? Then read THIS!

📊 QPT Ranking Points

Curious where you stand?  👉 Check out the latest rankings following QPT Gladstone.

🏆 QPC 2026

The Queensland Pickleball Championships (QPC) are heading to the Focus Tennis & Pickleball Centre, Redcliffe:
📅 1–5 July 2026

Entries are now open for this, our premier event of the year. But as early registrations are closing soon, be sure to secure your spot early, as this event is expected to fill quickly.

👉 The maximum number per event is capped.

👉 If you’re planning to play, don’t wait too long!

🧭 New to Tournaments?

🎉 If this is your first rodeo, then welcome, but if you are not sure what to do, then get your must-have CHECKLIST HERE 

⚠️ A Few VERY Important Reminders

👉Code of Behaviour

Pickleball Australia has rolled this out - please familiarise yourself with expectations on and off the court.

👉Paddle Legality

Check that your paddle is approved.
We don’t want anyone missing out on a medal for the wrong reason.

🎾 Final Word

Get out there, have a hit, enter a tournament, back yourself…and most importantly - have fun!

See you on the court soon 💛

Rykie Louw

Chair, Queensland Tournaments

Club Support UPDATE: Stay Covered, Stay Growing, Stay Playing!

Pickleball Brings Good Health & Well-being

It’s always worth reminding ourselves of the incredible benefits pickleball brings to our health, well-being, and community connection. From improved fitness to stronger social bonds, pickleball remains one of the most accessible and enjoyable sports in Queensland.

Below is a wonderful summary sourced from the Pickleball England website (published October 2023) from The Apple Heart and Movement Study, which revealed that tennis and pickleball were a win for overall health, as pickleball’s popularity continues to rise: 

Why Insurance Matters When You Play Pickleball

To continue enjoying these benefits with peace of mind, it’s important to ensure you’re covered by appropriate insurance whenever you step on court.

For PAQ Insurance Cover, You Need BOTH of These:

• Become a Member of Pickleball Australia (PA), which covers all Pickleball Queensland (PAQ) Members 
• But this cover ONLY applies when you join and play at a PAQ-affiliated club, business, or community group venue.

If you are not sure if your club or venue is affiliated, then view our list of PAQ-affiliated clubs 👉HERE👈:
 

PS. While not all venues in Queensland are affiliated with PAQ, some may still hold their own insurance, so it’s always worth asking.

Growing the Game: PAQ Grant Scheme Success

The Pickleball Queensland Grant Scheme is already making a real impact, with several successful applications helping clubs expand and improve their facilities. 

Below are photos from the Sunshine Coast and Redlands pickleball clubs, utilising their PAQ grants to provide nets for their new venue spaces to accommodate member growth. 

• Sunshine Coast Pickleball Club - new outdoor venue at Coolum State School with 6 courts now in action!
  
  

• Redlands Pickleball Club's new additional courts supporting increased player demand!
  
  

These upgrades help clubs welcome more players, reduce wait times, and grow vibrant pickleball communities.

👉 Club Grant Scheme applications are still available - click HERE to download the PAQ Club Support Grant Application form from our website.

We Want Your Feedback

We’re always looking to improve and support our clubs and members.

If you have feedback, ideas, or suggestions, please reach out: 📧clubsupport@pickleballqueensland.org

Keep Enjoying Pickleball in Queensland

With strong growth, better facilities, and a focus on player well-being, the future of pickleball in Queensland is looking bright.

Stay covered, stay connected, and most importantly - keep enjoying your pickleball! 🏓

Kerrie Richards

Club Support

Pickleball Community Heroes: Pickleball People Really Are Good People! 💚

Left to Right: Junko Marti, Ken Cardinal, Rod Walker, Frances Pelgrave, Catriona Arnold-Nott, Anj Mittelstadt, and Peter Arnold-Nott.

A Special Pickleball Community - Players from Malanda in Far North Queensland!

👩 Meet Frances Pelgrave:

Recently, a group of local players came together to support one of their own, Frances Pelgrave, as a nominee for Tableland Regional Council’s Citizen of the Year. And what a story she has.

Frances introduced pickleball to Malanda in 2020 and has been the driving force behind its growth ever since. Now at 82, she’s still leading from the front - organising sessions, building the community, and helping fill the Malanda High School sports hall with enthusiastic players week after week.

Her contribution goes far beyond the court, too, with decades of service through the Rural Fire Service, community education, and various local groups.

👩🏻 Meet Anj Mittelstadt:

Also recognised was fellow player Anj Mittelstadt, whose impact reaches deeply into the heart of the community. After the loss of her daughter, Anj channelled her energy into an extraordinary cause - helping her team generate more than 2,000 blood donations every year for over eight years.

On top of that, she’s played a key role in beautifying Malanda’s open spaces. A truly inspiring effort, and one that saw her take out the Citizen of the Year Award.

Stories like these remind us that pickleball is more than just a sport - it’s a community built on connection, generosity, and care.

Because at the End of the Day…Pickleball People really are Good People 🥰!

pickleCOACH TIPS: 

In the mood for improving your play?

Then why not visit our website for some fabulous PAQ Coaching Tips for Singles & Doubles Play, AND Great Drills 🤗

DUPR Explained: Must-Read Article!

🤩 7 Myths Every Pickleball Player Should Stop Believing about DUPR

Think you’ve got DUPR figured out? 🤔 Think again.

From “winning always helps” to “losing always hurts,” most players believe myths that could actually be holding their rating back.

👉 Discover the 7 biggest DUPR myths - and what the algorithm really rewards.

🏓 Read the full article 👉 HERE

PS. 🔊 Love staying in the loop?

Share this article with your pickleball crew, and follow us on Facebook so you never miss the latest updates, behind-the-scenes news, and tournament excitement! 🏓✨⋆˚🐝˖°

[Created by: Irene Isaacson]