CLUBS OF THE QUARTER
The Woodville Orion Tennis Club was formed by the merging of the Woodville Glengarry and Orion Tennis Clubs in 2017 and have 3 facilities in use for a great variety of tennis opportunities.
Woodville Orion broke records with its annual Easter tournament playing on both lawn and hardcourt surfaces, which included more junior talent coming through. The growth of their events extends to open, age and junior events throughout the year. Woodville Orion has also recorded higher female participation in their competitions.
The Club has been using ClubSpark since it came into use in 2020. They have gained a lot of value from having their website integrated with the system along with the Book-a-Court system, which is in use regularly.
The clubs coaching program has developed more than 100 Tennis Hot Shots juniors through Craig Palfrey and supported by John Caldana and Bill Long at Smith Reserve. Craig was also a finalist in the category of Most Outstanding Inclusion Program in the 2023 Tennis SA Awards. Andriana Petrakis won the category of Most Outstanding Player with a Disability at the 2023 Tennis SA Awards. This has also further established the Club in the diversity and inclusion space.
Woodville Orion are continuing to reimagine their vision of the Club through improvements to facilities, providing new services, and through fundraising and accessing grants.
Congratulations Woodville Orion!
The Back Valley Tennis Club resides on the north-east of Victor Harbor on South Australia’s picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula. The club enters both senior and junior teams into the Great Southern Tennis Association as well as having social tennis throughout the week. The club caters for all ages and abilities and has an active social calendar of events to enhance the family-friendly atmosphere that has been fostered and encouraged over the years.
In the past quarter, the club has seen the construction of an additional paved pathway, ramps for wheelchair access, a new garden bed and outdoor seating for the paved clubroom extension all on the back of volunteer work.
The club continues to apply for grants to help maintain safe courts and grounds for all members and visitors, with a specific focus on its more senior social members. An example of the club’s responsiveness to members’ concerns and desire to care for all users of the facilities is its plans to hold a first aid course for all members.
Congratulations Back Valley!
VOLUNTEERS OF THE QUARTER
Neville Messenger became Secretary and President at Woodville Orion Tennis Club for around 35 years. He was also club captain/senior organiser during his time at Woodville. He describes his role as making it possible for children and adults to play tennis, while also being involved with senior competitions. Neville is also involved on the GWTC match committee organising competitions that involves producing match programmes for both juniors and seniors.
During his tenure, Neville was involved in the amalgamation of the two clubs with Orion and Woodville Glengarry, creating a smooth and inclusive environment for all volunteers and club members. His involvement also attains to the facilities that are currently in use, going from six hardcourts to ten, liaising with Charles Sturt Council for funding, the improvements to the clubrooms with the new additions of a PA system, downlighting and wheelchair and ramp upgrades.
“I have always enjoyed my involvement with the Club and Association which dated back to years ago at Kilkenny when I tried to get a proposal up to build 22 courts which failed to gain funding. So, having that desire to build a large, modern facility for big events as well as for normal match play never left me. But I am fortunate in that dream has come to fruition.” He said.
Congratulations Neville!
Kathleen Slade is a committee member of Yorketown Tennis Club and junior committee delegate for the Southern Yorke Peninsula Tennis Association. She coordinates club trainings, runs the canteen on game days and most importantly liaises between the club and the association.
The club combines tennis, basketball, and netball and over the last eight years, Kathleen has been involved in all three clubs. She joined the Yorketown tennis club as she saw a need to improve the facilities to create a more enjoyable playing environment. She has been involved in a few facility projects which includes a fenced playground and a new pergola.
Kathleen has also been heavily involved in writing grant applications which has seen success on numerous occasions, including new club uniforms, a square EFTPOS machine and being successful in the most recent Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing infrastructure grant for upgraded lights.
Volunteering is very social for Kathleen; she loves working with a team of people who share the same goals. She also loves actively contributing to the progress and improvement of the club and community. Kathleen’s best advice for those considering volunteering is “it’s great socially and very rewarding. It’s challenging at times but helps develop great skills that can be used in life and work.”
Congratulations Kathleen!
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