In 1962, Perth pulled a magic trick. As astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, the Western Australian city paid tribute by flicking all of its house lights and streetlights off and on simultaneously. Glenn could see the west coast port blinking in the night, earning Perth the handle, the "City of Light." 36 years later, when then-Senator Glenn again felt the need for escape velocity in 1998, Perth performed an encore of its nictitating nocturne for the 77-year old spaceman. While Glenn risked being lost in space, Perth's table tennis players are now at a loss for space. Like most clubs around the world, Table Tennis Western Australia (TTWA) has been shuttered for most of the year. It is not, however, the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the Perth pongers into exile, but rather an internecine power struggle. Last year, the TTWA failed to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) during the calendar year, as required by the club's bylaws. When an AGM was finally announced in January, three club members issued legal action to block the meeting. Then the board of directors resigned en masse. One club member described the situation as "a [expletive]-up, followed by a cover-up, followed by another [expletive]-up, followed by another cover-up." That is undeniably a lot of ups to deal with. While the whole truth is assuredly more complex, these basic facts paint a troubling picture of dysfunction. Then, just to add another degree of difficulty, it turns out that the clubhouse requires $20,000 in asbestos remediation before it can reopen. While the club languishes in legal limbo, members like Bill Carnell (pictured) just want to play again. Now, the "City of Light" will once again need some magic to illuminate the Stygian darkness which has befallen them. Without John Glenn to look up to, it remains to be seen whether the earthlings (Perthlings?) can get it together.

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