Meet the Committee

Brendan Gaeta – President

Brendan has a strong passion for table tennis and seeing table tennis grow not only in Townsville, but everywhere.

In-between working as a full time solicitor, raising four children with his wife Jackie, undertaking house renovations and regularly being involved in local community events and not-for-profit organizations, Brendan volunteers a considerable amount of his time to table tennis.

Brendan competes at a local, state and national level. In 2016, 2019 and 2020, Brendan was part of the men’s over 30’s team that won gold medal in Queensland and the QLD Shield. Brendan has also represented QLD at the National Veteran Championships on various occasions. Brendan’s daughter Taleisha also competes competitively and was the under 11 girl’s QLD singles champion in 2018 and under 13 girl’s QLD singles champion in 2021. Taleisha is part of the Townsville and QLD representative team.

Brendan has been a solicitor for in excess of two decades specializing in property, business, commercial and employment law. Brendan is also a joint owner of the law firm in which he works and employs over 40 staff. Brendan’s extensive experience across a wide range of areas sees that he is well placed to provide advice to the Committee on matters as they arise and also undertake various structuring and organisational matters for the Association. Brendan provides purpose, leadership and overall strategy for the Association, the Committee and its members. He is responsible for all governance of the Club and all operations and management.

Brendan is also a QLD Umpire and Referee and is closely involved in tournament organisation and officiating. This includes being the Referee for all Townsville based tournaments and often being a Referee at QLD tournaments.


Terry Morato – Vice President

Terry started playing Table Tennis at the age of 23 in the Burdekin and has been involved as a player and administration of Table Tennis since that time. Terry and Brendan work closely together and Terry’s experience as a farm manager (amongst many other things) is invaluable in providing purpose, leadership and overall strategy for the Association. Terry is also the current Table Tennis Queensland President.

Terry has competed at tournaments throughout Queensland, and Australia as well as overseas as a Veteran and is still an active player.

Terry has vast experience in business management and has been involved with many organisations and community groups at Board level over the last 30 years.

Terry is also the President of Table Tennis Queensland, our state governing body.

Terry is committed to making the game available to everyone and having Townsville Table Tennis Association sound and viable into the future.


Brendan Cahill – Treasurer

Brendan undertook his schooling in Mackay and represented Mackay as a junior player. During this time Brendan represented QLD and was also a member of the QLD youth team at the age of 16.

After relocating to Townsville in 2005 Brendan commenced university studies at JCU and successfully completed a bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management. He is currently work at KordaMentha and specialises in corporate turnaround and restructuring.

Brendan is the club Treasurer and is responsible for the club finances and the financial growth of the club.


Gary Mantell – Secretary 

Gary joined the Association in 2018 after a long break (approximately 38 years) from playing table tennis in South Australia in the early eighties. His passion was re-ignited after playing table tennis on cruise ships, which Gary & his wife Kathy enjoy doing biannually. Whilst Gary has not been with the club long in 2020 he joined the Committee to help grow the sport he is passionate about.

Outside of table tennis Gary works at Lavarack Barracks as a Base Support Officer. He won the job after retiring from a 25 year career in the Army which saw him travel to Egypt for nine months and a tour of duty in East Timor on top of numerous postings around Australia.

Gary is a regular plasma donor, donating plasma on more than 400 occasions. As a result Gary was awarded the prestigious honour of Carrying the Queens Baton that toured Australia prior to the Commonwealth Games.

Gary and his wife Kathy each have three grown children from previous marriages and as a result the real life Brady bunch was formed in 2000 when they were married. Gary & Kathy have thirteen grandchildren (none of which are interested in Table Tennis, much to Gary’s disgust).

Gary is always willing to volunteer, be it for Sausage Sizzles, work at the hall or any other way that he can assist.

Gary plays table tennis four times a week in an attempt to improve his ability. He is regularly found at the hall either playing or conducting maintenance with the club treasurer


Morrie Bligh – Committee Member

Morrie first joined our table tennis club in 1958 and has served on the committee in various roles over many years.

Morrie was awarded Life Membership of the Townsville Table Tennis Association in 2006 and Patron in 2010.  He is a keen veteran player and has represented Townsville and Queensland for many years.

Morrie is retired from work, but volunteers such as large amount of time to various organisations and causes that it is as if he ever actually retired. You will always see Morrie volunteer his time around the table tennis hall on a weekly basis and during all tournaments.


Olav Dahl – Committee Member

Olav was born in Norway and moved to Australia late 2005. He has been an active player in Townsville since 2008 and was introduced to the sport through his father who was once national coach of Fiji and Norway.

Since the age of 10 he has represented the state at a national level more than 10 times in both Junior and Youth categories. Since finishing his Junior career, Olav has found a passion for coaching and has been a volunteer coach at the club since 2016.


Peter Waddell – Committee Member

Peter is now semi-retired and is an active Committee member of our Association.

Peter operates our weekly senior fixtures and Sunday Tournaments, amongst undertaking many other volunteer duties.