18 June 2013 | Tennis Queensland

The 2013 Rod Laver Junior Championships presented by Tennis and Gear online will include the first awarding of the Anne Huddleston Trophy for Fair Play.

Anne Huddleston was accepted into the International Tennis Club of Australia in 2007 after a successful tennis career which included winning 64 titles, 21 of which in Queensland. Some of Anne’s highlights were winning the Queensland Open Mixed Doubles at the age of 17 and twice representing Australia including in the 1954 doubles finals at the Australian Hardcourt Championships with partner Jennifer Staley. She was also named Queensland Junior Sportswoman of the Year in 1951 and 1952.

Anne’s early life was Tennis and she received much pleasure from those years. Her husband Don and his family wanted to give something back to the sport on Anne’s behalf and thought it would be fitting to be involved with the Rod Laver Qld Junior Championships as Rod and Anne grew up together and were friends.

The Anne Huddleston Perpetual Trophy will be awarded to a junior that shows a great attitude and commitment to fair play.

Anne’s daughter Deb Macdonald, who was key to the inclusion of this new initiative, believes it will reflect her mother’s most memorable qualities of loyalty, positivity and generosity.

“In any form of sport Anne always said the Sportsmanship Award was the most important Award you could win – Anne received great pleasure from coaching and assisting with the juniors in Blackall -she would be honoured and in total agreement of the trophies for what they represent.

“[Anne] received pleasure from giving to others in life, never expecting anything in return.”

The award will be presented on Saturday 6th July 2013 on the final day of competition for the Rod Laver Junior Championships.

Above: Anne Huddleston (1936-2011) playing against her grandchildren.