Gwenyth Spinks
One day playing pickleball Gwenyth told me she was working as dental therapist. We then talked about all various people we knew but I wanted to know more.
A: Good morning, Gwenyth. Shall we start at the beginning which is where were you born?
G: Smithton. Tasmania.
A: Why did you want to become a dental therapist?
G: I sort of fell into it. I was at school. I had only done one year of matric and I applied for the job not really knowing what it was and I ended up in Hobart. For a two-year course.
A: So what did you know about dental therapy before you started to study?
G: Nothing. I actually thought it was to become an assistant.
A: So you worked as a dental therapist for how many years approximately?
G: I graduated in 1978. I retired about two years ago.
A: You have made a comeback. You are now doing relief work.
G: I am employed as a casual.
A: When you worked as a therapist what did you enjoy about it?
G: It was tough to start with. But probably I liked most was the companionship of the people I worked with. Most rewarding thing is getting kids out of pain.
A: So most kids at Smithton in those days did they need fillings, extractions or just a check-up and clean?
G: It was rampant caries back in those days. There was no fluoride. And we did quadrant dentistry without an assistant.
A: So nowadays when you are working you can see the benefits of fluoride.
G: Absolutely obvious.
A: So nowadays the kids like you a lot more.
G: Oh yes.
A: So did you speak to the teachers about the kids.
G: Yes back in those days we had a good relationship with the teachers. Back in those days we were part of the staff. We always went to the staffroom.
Now I am working back in the schools. A program were we are doing preventive in the schools from a little mobile truck. So it’s fissure sealants and fluorides.
A: I met you playing pickleball.
A: Why did you start playing pickleball?
G: Because I played tennis and some tennis people were playing it and enjoying it and I went along and loved it.
A: What were you expecting pickleball to be like?
G: More like tennis. I’ve always played tennis.
A: What do you think of pickleball now?
G: I love it. It is easier on the body. It is easy for people to play who haven’t played tennis.
G: I like the fastness of it. In tennis you are often waiting for someone to serve. In pickleball the ball is always active.
A: Would you say to your colleagues at work come and play pickleball.
G: They all laugh about the name. They seem to have the conception it’s for old people. Retired people.
A: I’ve noticed that.
G: I think it is because of the time most of the pickleball is played.
A: I’ve played pickleball against my grandkids and they don’t call themselves old.
G: Do they like it?
A: Yeh. They love it.
A: I’ve also played with the people in between. My daughters and my son have all played pickleball.
G: It’s good to see the younger ones playing. They do love it.
A: They do.
G: Why is it called pickleball?
A: It was invented in Seattle by some politicians on holiday. They played golf and came back from golf and saw their kids sitting around doing nothing. They had a badminton court and some bats and balls and said play with this. They made up a new game. And one of the ladies who made up the game used to row. And in the USA when they have a rowing carnival, they normally have a boat made up of all the left overs and that is called the pickleboat. So, this lady called the game pickleball because pickleball was made up from all the left over equipment. They also had a dog called pickle. So I think they called everything in their house pickle even the goldfish.
A: I’ll finish the story. The pickleboat normally came last in the regatta because it was full of left overs. Going back in time, in England, the last boat back to port was called the pickle boat because the other boats said they are taking their time because they are pickling fish.
A: Can you see yourself playing pickleball in the future?
G: Yes. One reason is I’ve got a bad knee.
A: Pickleball is preferable if you have any leg issues.
G: I also like it is social. If I am working, I am not committed.
A: There is a little bit of competitive pickleball starting. It’s coming. But it’s mainly social and mainly doubles.
A: Your serve.
A: Good morning, Gwenyth. Shall we start at the beginning which is where were you born?
G: Smithton. Tasmania.
A: Why did you want to become a dental therapist?
G: I sort of fell into it. I was at school. I had only done one year of matric and I applied for the job not really knowing what it was and I ended up in Hobart. For a two-year course.
A: So what did you know about dental therapy before you started to study?
G: Nothing. I actually thought it was to become an assistant.
A: So you worked as a dental therapist for how many years approximately?
G: I graduated in 1978. I retired about two years ago.
A: You have made a comeback. You are now doing relief work.
G: I am employed as a casual.
A: When you worked as a therapist what did you enjoy about it?
G: It was tough to start with. But probably I liked most was the companionship of the people I worked with. Most rewarding thing is getting kids out of pain.
A: So most kids at Smithton in those days did they need fillings, extractions or just a check-up and clean?
G: It was rampant caries back in those days. There was no fluoride. And we did quadrant dentistry without an assistant.
A: So nowadays when you are working you can see the benefits of fluoride.
G: Absolutely obvious.
A: So nowadays the kids like you a lot more.
G: Oh yes.
A: So did you speak to the teachers about the kids.
G: Yes back in those days we had a good relationship with the teachers. Back in those days we were part of the staff. We always went to the staffroom.
Now I am working back in the schools. A program were we are doing preventive in the schools from a little mobile truck. So it’s fissure sealants and fluorides.
A: I met you playing pickleball.
A: Why did you start playing pickleball?
G: Because I played tennis and some tennis people were playing it and enjoying it and I went along and loved it.
A: What were you expecting pickleball to be like?
G: More like tennis. I’ve always played tennis.
A: What do you think of pickleball now?
G: I love it. It is easier on the body. It is easy for people to play who haven’t played tennis.
G: I like the fastness of it. In tennis you are often waiting for someone to serve. In pickleball the ball is always active.
A: Would you say to your colleagues at work come and play pickleball.
G: They all laugh about the name. They seem to have the conception it’s for old people. Retired people.
A: I’ve noticed that.
G: I think it is because of the time most of the pickleball is played.
A: I’ve played pickleball against my grandkids and they don’t call themselves old.
G: Do they like it?
A: Yeh. They love it.
A: I’ve also played with the people in between. My daughters and my son have all played pickleball.
G: It’s good to see the younger ones playing. They do love it.
A: They do.
G: Why is it called pickleball?
A: It was invented in Seattle by some politicians on holiday. They played golf and came back from golf and saw their kids sitting around doing nothing. They had a badminton court and some bats and balls and said play with this. They made up a new game. And one of the ladies who made up the game used to row. And in the USA when they have a rowing carnival, they normally have a boat made up of all the left overs and that is called the pickleboat. So, this lady called the game pickleball because pickleball was made up from all the left over equipment. They also had a dog called pickle. So I think they called everything in their house pickle even the goldfish.
A: I’ll finish the story. The pickleboat normally came last in the regatta because it was full of left overs. Going back in time, in England, the last boat back to port was called the pickle boat because the other boats said they are taking their time because they are pickling fish.
A: Can you see yourself playing pickleball in the future?
G: Yes. One reason is I’ve got a bad knee.
A: Pickleball is preferable if you have any leg issues.
G: I also like it is social. If I am working, I am not committed.
A: There is a little bit of competitive pickleball starting. It’s coming. But it’s mainly social and mainly doubles.
A: Your serve.