12 March 2018 | Tennis Queensland

Two North Queensland tennis clubs are getting back on their feet, 12 months after ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused widespread devastation across the region in March 2017.

Bundaberg District Tennis Association will receive $10,000 through Tennis Australia’s National Court Rebate to help with repairs of their clubhouse, fences and playing surfaces after more than 500ml of rain swept through the Drinan Park facility. The club was left devastated after sustaining more than $200,000 in damage during the storm.

“The storm was devastating for our club, the outside fence was completely knocked down and inner fences bent over. The damage was hard to measure, and every bit off assistance we’ve received has been wonderful,” said Jenny Gregg from Tennis Bundaberg.

“Work will begin on our new fencing next month, and weather permitting should take two weeks to complete, just in time for our Gold Australian Money Tournament which will bring competitors from around the state to Bundaberg in in May.”

Tennis Bundaberg also secured $5,000 in funding from the state government following the storm.

Meanwhile, Monto District Tennis Association received $5,000 from the National Court Rebate towards the repair of its six courts, which were almost completely destroyed by the flood. The club also secured $5,000 in funding from the state government following the storm, to go towards the cost the rebuild of its clubhouse and erection of a new LED lighting system.

“It’s fantastic the courts were at the point of disrepair and the lights were years old so it makes a huge difference,” said Robert Bygrave from the Monto and District Tennis Association.

“It will be great, people can play into the night because we have the facilities now,” said Trish Bygrave from the club.

Since 2007, the National Court Rebate program has:

• Provided funding towards 142 projects in Queensland
• Stimulated over $149 million in total project value for tennis facilities
• Lead to over 500 new or resurfaced full size courts and over 140 Hot Shots courts

The National Court Rebate (NCR) is Tennis Australia’s facility funding program assisting affiliated venues, local councils and schools to create positive environments for the long term success of tennis in Australia. Projects supported by the program range from developing new courts, upgrading or resurfacing existing court surfaces, ANZ Hot Shots courts, Tennis Australia’s Book a Court with integrated gate access technology, associated tennis infrastructure, major projects and strategy & planning.