Norma Stead’s love for tennis at a young age ignited a lifetime of passion which has led her to receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to tennis.
Mrs. Stead has been involved with the Kiama Tennis Club and Kiama and Shellharbour District Tennis Association for decades as a life member of both the club and the association, and the Kiama tennis precinct is named in her honor – the Stead Reserve.
The former player turned volunteer was humbled by the honour.
“My reaction was just ‘oh’, I didn’t carry on. I just went quiet,” she told the Illawarra Mercury.
“My mum and dad both played tennis. My dad used to play with (Australian tennis champion) Harry Hopman. I’ve got a trophy of theirs that they won together, which I was very proud of.
“I won our school championships when I was about 12 at the public school in Berry. Then the war came along and put a bit of a stopper to tennis and all kinds of things, but I managed to play a bit of social tennis around the place. I’ve always been interested in tennis,” she said.
Tennis NSW Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence Robertson said “Norma’s devotion to our sport is inspiring on so many levels, with an extensive list of on court and off court achievements over the years including Tennis NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2011. Individuals like Norma play a vital role in our sport and I am delighted to congratulate Norma on this very well deserved achievement”.
Norma Stead’s tennis achievements on court – Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association Championships
1953—B Grade Ladies Singles Champion
1954—AR Ladies Singles Champion
1960—AR Ladies Doubles Champion with Beattie Long
1963—AR Mixed Doubles Champion with Kevin Barr
196 4—AR Ladies singles and AR ladies doubles champion-doubles with Noelene Hurditch
1965—AR ladies Doubles with Noelene Hurditch defeating Bernice Evans and Bev Taunton
1967—AR Ladies Doubles with Bernice Evans
1969—AR Ladies Doubles with Bernice Evans
Off court Awards & Achievements
1968 – Life Membership Kiama Tennis Club
1969 – Life Membership Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association
1982 – Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association “Member of the Year”
2000 – Australian Sports Medal
2001 – The Stead family’s contribution to Kiama tennis was publicly recognised at a naming ceremony at the Noorinan Street tennis centre, being named Stead Reserve.
2009 – NSW Sports Federation Distinguished Long Service Award
2011 – Tennis NSW Volunteer of the year
2020 – Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association named their “Association member of the year award” the “Norma Stead Trophy”
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