Keen for some physical activity, Rolf Rekort decided to take up table tennis with Tamborine Mountain U3A.
“It was just a good idea at the time to do it,” he said with a smile.
“I’d been playing table tennis at school and hadn’t played it for most of my adult life.
“It’s like riding a bicycle. The skill level was reduced in the beginning, but it has increased, perhaps not rapidly, but it increased from week to week.”
Now he is the table tennis convenor and admits that while it’s about having fun, there are times when it does get competitive.
“We keep score so there is a little bit of competitiveness and sometimes there are moments of brilliance displayed by players,” he said, adding that the fun of it is getting caught up in the excitement of the game.
“It’s a social event, improving physical agility and mental alertness.
Last month Rolf marked two anniversaries: the passing of his wife of 26 years, Carole Tilling-Rekort, and his arrival in Australia from Berlin in Germany 51 years ago.
Despite the passing of years his German accent remains strong.
Rolf arrived in Australia at the age of 35 with his first wife and two daughters. His wife’s father was already living in Australia, so they moved to be closer to him.
He was working in the computer industry and was keen to work in an English-speaking country after spending a year studying in the United States.
It was March 1975 and the sub-tropical weather in Brisbane was also a big drawcard.
After separating from his first wife he met Carole at a government training seminar.
Rolf said she was actually the first television chef in Queensland on Channel 9.
For 22 years he lived in Brisbane, working for the Queensland government computer centre (CITEC) until he was posted to Canberra for 13 years.
When it came time to retire the couple planned to move to Cornwall in the United Kingdom and while waiting for their dog to undergo quarantine requirements they moved to Tamborine Mountain and joined their youngest daughter Christina Rekort-Blundell, a teacher at Tamborine Mountain High School for many years.
They were gazumped on their Cornwall property and ended up falling in love with Tamborine Mountain and deciding to stay.
It was while in Canberra they began their involvement with the U3A.
Rolf, along with Carole, became very active with the organisation on Tamborine Mountain, becoming part of the committee and presenting various courses including exploring the history of musical theatre, a course on famous and infamous leaders and several others.
After losing Carole, U3A became even more important to Rolf.
“It was good for me to have that continue, particularly the table tennis,” he shared.
“Every Monday it’s an activity I have incorporated into my life. It’s good to meet like-minded people.
“After table tennis we meet in the café and we talk. It’s important to me, apart from the physical activity, but the social aspect, which is the main emphasis of the U3A.
“The garden also kept me sane and provides satisfaction in life.”
His garden is a delightful, manicured haven, with several different zones.
The robotic lawnmower his daughter bought him is a new novelty Rolf is enjoying, which he refers to like a pet. It has also meant he’s had to upgrade his pathways from gravel to pavers to suit the robot.
“It’s quite amazing to see him suddenly coming along the pathway. He does it on his own accord. Beyond 5pm he goes home or if it starts raining, he goes back to the base station,” Rolf said of his new toy.
Rolf has also been a member of Probus for 10 years and a member of the committee of the Tamborine Mountain Community Care Association.
“I like the community, especially my neighbourhood, who have been very supportive,” he said.
The cooler temperatures on the mountain are also a bonus and having all the facilities close by, including the bottle shop, he joked, make life idyllic.
“Coming from Canberra we were initially concerned about the cultural offering, but we have the Tamborine Mountain Orchestra and Zamia Theatre and so many community organisations,” Rolf said.
“We were regular attendees at the Tamborine Mountain Orchestra and would go to the concerts in Brisbane every Sunday and to HOTA.
“It’s the ideal place.”
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