REDLANDS’ quietest sporting club might also be one of its most important.
A place where competition, connection and community all meet on the three green-baize tables tucked inside the Redlands RSL.
The Redlands Billiard and Snooker Club has grown to more than 100 members, with players ranging from juniors to men in their 90s.
Committee member Robin Littlestone said the club’s oldest player recently turned 93 and still competes with the sharpness of someone who has spent a lifetime at the table.
Every Wednesday and Thursday, around 28 members roll in when the RSL doors open at 10am.
Some arrive for the competition, others for the company, but most come for both.
“It’s more of a social gathering as well,” Mr Littlestone said.
“Especially for the guys who’ve lost loved ones.
“They turn up, talk to people in the same situation, and it gives them something to do. Once we’re on the tables, it’s game on, but the social side is just as important.”
The club’s membership spans generations, with juniors winning competitions and older players offering decades of experience.
Coaching is also available for anyone who wants to learn, and the club is working to encourage more women to join, with two currently competing weekly.
Despite its growth, space remains the club’s biggest challenge.
Three tables fill the current room, and a fourth sits unused because there’s nowhere to put it.
The club hopes the RSL may eventually relocate them to a larger area, but for now, they make do and still manage to welcome new members every month.
With housing development booming across the region, Mr Littlestone expects interest in the club to rise.
“It’s an outlet for a lot of people,” he said.
“A kind of therapy, if you like.
“Anyone who’s curious should come along, see what we do, and give it a try.”
