It was more than 70 years ago that Tom Boyd picked up a table tennis bat for the first time.
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Little did he know, that moment would ignite a lifetime of dedication to the sport. His journey also led him to his wife Joy, who was also passionate about the game.
The Windang couple have now been both awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this Australia for their service to table tennis.
It's a special moment for the Boyds.
"Table tennis is where we met. This is our second marriage, our partners died many years ago, and we were in the sport at that time. We got together and eventually married, we've been married for well over 20 years now," Tom said.
"But it goes back further with the table tennis, which is why this award was given. We started playing more or less when we were youngsters. Joy was about 19 or 20, and I think when I first started working in Melbourne, the place I worked for had a table tennis table so I played at lunchtimes. I got interested in it more or less from that time on - that was the mid-40s. And that's how it started."
The Boyds boast a superb list of achievements, but their most proudest would be being driving forces behind the establishment and success of the Kiama Table Tennis Club.
They helped found the club in 2007, with Tom taking on the role of club president - which he has held for the past 14 years - while Joy has been club secretary and treasurer.
"The club has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in the last few years," Tom said.
"Numbers have increased and it's amazing how this sport is played by all ages, but the veterans seem to be the most people playing. We have over 72 [members], which I think was at last count, and over half of that play twice a week for three hours. It's more of a social club really, than a competitive club. But we do have competition players in the club down there.
"But anyone can play it, as long as they're physically fit. I'm getting to that stage where my health is still good, I've been lucky and I appreciate that."
Tom and Joy have both been heavily involved with Table Tennis NSW and are both club life members. They also helped found the Veterans Australian Table Tennis Championship.
It is a competition that Tom, in particular, has dominated, winning 10 gold medals between 1987 and 2015.
Joy also has an impressive playing record, with highlights including winning a bronze medal for Australia at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. She was also part of the ladies triples team who won gold at the 2007 World Disabled Lawn Bowls Championships in Sydney.
"Joy's been all over the country, and overseas too. And so have I, we've been to a few world championships in masters," Tom said.
"It's a fantastic sport to meet people. The social side of it is so great because the people we meet are so interesting."