Southern Highlands Fencing Academy
The Beginning - By Pamela Zopf
In early 1993, fencing coach, Roland Zopf, during a visit to Bowral, noticed the number of young people around town and thought this would be a great place to start a fencing club. It was that simple!
Roland, for some time, had seen the need to decentralise fencing and encourage regional growth, a key to the success of the sport in Europe, and the Southern High lands looked like a perfect place to start.
The Uniting Church hall in Boolwey St was available on Wednesday nights, a booking was made, an announcement that fencing classes would be conducted there was placed, in the local paper, the fencing gear was packed in the car and, with fingers crossed, Roland, his wife Pam and fellow coach, Greg Bayley, set off on the new venture.
The Southern Highlands didn’t disappoint! Over 20 people turned up on the first night, which challenged the space available in the hall. Roland gave an overview of the history of the sport and he and Greg demonstrated the basics movements. The footwork session, however, sorted the sheep from the true believers and the numbers the following week were more manageable.
Later, a second night, on Friday evenings, was introduced at Moss Vale High School. By this time, the club had a strong membership of young fencers and families. Roland was the sole coach by this time, with Greg coaching in Sydney. From here, the club moved to ???????????? On Friday nights only as Roland had opened another club in Sydney.
Kevin Mercer, a very early member, convinced Roland that he should coach at Gib Gate primary school and made the introductions. Gib Gate became a valuable feeder of young fencers to the club. Kevin, who was on the board of the Winifred West Schools, then persuaded Frensham that fencing would be an advantage for the girls at the school and the board very kindly agreed for the club to meet at the Cynthia Parker Gymnasium at Frensham on Friday evenings.
Roland introduced a new style of coaching which he had developed from observing
overseas coaches. From the beginning, members were encouraged to compete. Within a very short time, the club was producing champions, first at novice level and later at state and national level. By midway into the first decade of this century, the club had grown into one of the strongest in the state, a tribute to the people of the Highlands and their determination to succeed.
Southern Highlands Fencing Academy’s greatest strength always was its members,
who ensured a friendly, social atmosphere on club nights and supported and encouraged those young fencers who aimed for excellence in their chosen sport.
In 2008, Roland retired and Maitre de Arms, Jeff Gray, took over as coach
for the club.
