Walk of Fame Inductee, 2017
Alison Ide, OAM
Born in Cowra, on 19 November, 1935, Alison Jean Aitken, was the only child of Bruce and Phyliss Aitken. When Alison was six the family moved to North Ryde in Sydney and it was here she learnt tennis.
In 1962, Alison moved to Canberra to join the Public Service as a finance officer in Primary Industry. Joining Turner Tennis Club she met and formed a friendship with Arthur Ide; treasurer at Turner and a widower with two teenage children. It was a bond which saw Alison and Arthur marry in 1966 and make a lifelong commitment to each other, their family and to tennis.
Alison established herself as a top flight player in Canberra winning the ACT Open Doubles in 1973 and 1974 and in 1984 at the age of 49 she won the ACT Residents Singles title.
She also threw herself into administration and volunteering – tournaments, pennants, publicity, committees and organising interstate and overseas tennis trips. Nothing was too much for Alison, along with the personality and drive to get others to work with her. Alison was Secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary from 1969 – 1972 and Secretary of the ACT Tennis Association from 1974 – 1980. She was made an honorary Life Member of the ACT Tennis Association in 1981.
In his book on the tennis history of Canberra, Roy Smalley wrote, “she can rightly be regarded as the architect of the modernising of women’s tennis in the ACT”. A full women’s tennis program was developed, and the Ladies Auxiliary elevated from its historical connotation as ‘tea ladies’ to Branch status, with its President becoming a full Tennis Association Vice – President, Board member and member of the Grading Committee.
As good friend Anne Haycock wrote of Alison “her CV for Veterans and Seniors Tennis is beyond compare”. Up to 1997 Alison appeared in more Australian Veteran’s Championships – 23 of 24 held – than any other Australian veteran. She won several Australian Veterans singles and doubles championships and represented Australia at World titles between 1984 and 2006, winning the World 70 Women’s Doubles title in Turkey in 2006 with Victorian Joyce Rogers.
Not content with on-court success Alison, was heavily involved in senior’s organisation. She served two terms as President of Tennis Seniors ACT, and national Treasurer, Secretary and Selector. In addition to local awards she received awards as the Australian Tennis Senior of the Year in 1986 and Australian Tennis Administrator in 2000 and was made a Life Member of Tennis Seniors Australia in 2003.
Alison maintained her grassroots passion for tennis remaining an active life member of Turner Tennis Club as well as serving as President of Reid Tennis Club, where she was also a life member.
In 1997 Alison was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for service to veteran’s tennis as a player, administrator, and selector.
In 2008 the ANU Great Hall was packed for a special tribute dinner organised by Tennis Seniors to honour Alison’s contributions to tennis. Alison spent the evening reminiscing about her tennis memories in the ACT and it was a fitting acknowledgement for the women known as the “Headmistress” – a born organiser, high achiever and genuine Canberra tennis sporting legend.
Following her passing in 2009, Alison Ide was fittingly inducted into the ACT Sporting Hall of Fame
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