The Australian Women's Register

1 sound file (ca. 91 min.) Suzy Javor talks about her table tennis career; her life in Hungary; her World War II experiences; after the war joining a table tennis club; progression through the ranks; marrying her coach; her selection to the national team; playing in Romania, London and Holland; life behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s; playing in Vienna at the time of the Hungarian revolution (1956); never returning to Hungary, waiting in Austria until the revolution was over; meeting up with her husband; life on the other side of the curtain; importance of sport to the Hungarian nation and the communist system; different training regimes; Australian Institute of Sport; the different approach to sport in Australia, Table Tennis in particular; racquet innovation and other technological changes and changes to the rules that have impacted upon the game; the talents and skills required in a good table tennis player; coming to Australia; the offer of help from the Victorian Table Tennis Association; the journey to Australia arriving May, 1957; early days in Melbourne; getting work; Kurt de Vreis; her husband’s work. Javor discusses developing a table tennis network; her life at home with her baby; getting a part time job; English language difficulties limiting her social and employment options; moving to their own home; winning Victorian Championships; attempting to improve training regime; raising the standard of the game in Australia; son’s elite table tennis career; husband focusing on coaching; the table tennis community in Victoria; Albert Park Stadium; Australian women’s team finishing 12th at world championships (1963); World Championships in Prague (1963) reuniting with her Hungarian team mates; seeing her family for the first time since she left; her husband’s support and his importance to the development of the sport; Javor Cup tournament; relationship with and support from the Melbourne Jewish Community; member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and her inclusion in the Australian Sports Hall of Fame (1987); importance of sport and public recognition of her talent and contribution; importance of her involvement in sport to her life course; life after playing competitively; prospects for making a living out of table tennis; importance of the recognition of her effort, contribution and the friendships made though sport.