Fifty years + a little extra in the making… last Saturday the Gove Peninsula Tennis Club celebrated it’s milestone birthday with a huge celebration that took a village to put together and welcomed the whole community.

Tennis NT was excited to make the journey to Nhulunbuy to be a part of their celebrations. The committee had spent time planning a vision for an amazing party that highlighted the club over it’s long history – and it showed. Wonderful memories of the local community and special visitors like Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, and the Australian Open mens and womens champions trophies “Norm and Daphne” were all featured on the wall of honour, this was alongside more recent memories like the club’s visit to Darwin to compete in the Gardens Picnic Day weekend event, and the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival. The three-court club isnt called “the biggest smallest club in Australia” for nothing!

The party had a bigger purpose too, which was to help raise money for the much-needed court resurfacing.  No effort was spared to ensure that this celebration would be one for the whole community to enjoy, so that the club could maximise the opportunity to raise funds towards getting the venue surface up to scratch.

The highlight of the night was the performance from Adelaide band, FUNK ME, who played three sets dressed in their 70’s inspired tennis whites. The band got the whole town rocking and dancing all night long.

Club President Nicky Mayer was instrumental in gathering support from a huge range of local businesses, and other community clubs, to make the event as big as possible. Sponsors and partners included: