It was a true global affair when representatives from The King’s Trust Australia visited Stokes Bay to deliver sporting gifts, including kits to play pickleball, the world’s fastest growing sport and a huge hit in America.

We visited the Stokes Bay Community Hall, to mark two years since its official re-opening. We had worked with the Community Hall Committee to help with the massive rebuild efforts, after the hall was devastated in the Black Summer Bushfire.

CEO Michelle Endacott presented the community with pickleball sets, tennis rackets, tennis balls and basketballs, and was treated to a tour of the hall, along with Justin Hewitt and Alexander Dowthwaite, who managed the project for the King’s Trust.

After Black Summer, we were looking for a community to work with, and a phone call from Justin to Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly led to this project and new friendships, now spanning five years.

Justin told community members at the morning tea, "You welcomed us into your community in your darkest hours, and it has been our honour to work alongside you."

Michelle said, "We were thrilled to see how busy the hall is - a true heart of the community with church services, gym, the famous Christmas concert and, sadly, the first funeral in the rebuilt hall, with over 300 mourners.

"The well cared for native gardens planted by the community truly complement the hall."

The hall features a stunning restored Jarrah floor, a meeting and function space that can be divided in two, an accessible disabled toilet and shower, and fully-equipped kitchen overlooking the wide verandah and tennis courts – the perfect venue for pickleball!

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