FRIENDS STILL MAKING A RACKET
WHEN it comes to friendship goals, today’s youth should look no further than Susie Ackers and her girl gang who have notched up 40 years as best mates.
The original crew of six met on the squash courts and their number also includes, Linda Gorman, Pat Slade, Lucille Pearson, Bev Hendy (mother to champion Ironman Trevor) and Sue Adler.
A total of 25 women have at one stage passed through the ranks of this friendship club which now numbers 13.
The only criteria is that club members must have at one stage played squash.
Other prominent past members include Mick Doohan’s mum Colleen Johnstone.
Honorary secretary Mrs Gorman is in charge of keeping records and photos of the lunch meetings with the 337th such shindig taking place on Saturday at Bangkok Thai, near the courts where they first met 40 years ago at Chevron Island.
While most of the women have hung up their rackets, Mrs Ackers, 67, and “new” recruit Robin Marshall, 80, still play competitively every Wednesday at Labrador.
Many may remember Mrs Ackers as entertainer Susie C who sang and played guitar six nights a week from 1975 to 1995 at Bavarian Steak House, Marco Polo Restaurant, The Den at The Eldorado Motel, Main Beach Motel, The Cecil Hotel, The Chevron Skyline Lounge, Emperor’s Palace, The Captain’s Table and Oliver Twist Seafood Restaurant.
“I was 27 when this all started and some ladies are coming up to 85 so we have a wide range of ages but we all just fit in,” Mrs Ackers said.
“Some of our ladies have had cancer or lost a husband.
“We know each other so well, we are always there for each other through everything.”
These days the ladies meet about six times a year at the homes of club members or at favourite restaurants.
They’ve also gone further afield for special anniversaries, venturing to Vanuatu for their 20th, Hawaii to mark 25 years and Mooloolaba to celebrate 30 years.