Sunshine Coast Ladies Midweek Tennis Association Inc

History

Some anecdotes from Helen Fletchett

When I started playing Mid Week tennis in 1978, the competition had been going for more than 10 years. Competition  would start in March and finish in August/September. Approximately 8 teams per division playing 3 full rounds. Teams consisted of 6 players, playing 3 sets each, a total of 9 sets for the day. Played on one court. Starting at 10am and finishing before 3pm. Players 1, 2, 3 & 4 were known as men, and players 5 & 6 were known as ladies. Format for the day was- players 1&5 v 1&5 set 1, 2&6 v 2&6 set 2, 1&2 v 1&2 set 3, 3&4 v 3&4 set 4, 5&6 v 5&6 set 5, 1&2  v  3&4  set 6, 3&4 v 1&2 set 7, 2&6 v 1&5 set 8 and 1&5 v 2&6 set 9. 1&2 had to be the strongest players in the team.  Playing on home and away basis, the same as today.  

In the mid 1980’s we had 103 teams consisting of six players per team. Our AGM meetings were held in Washington Street Nambour Clubhouse. The clubhouse would be full, and women were standing around the walls and out on the porch.

In the late 1980’s Little Mountain, Alinga and Headland Tennis Centres started a Hard Court competition starting in early October playing for 10 weeks plus 2 week finals. Each division had 12 teams consisting of 4 players per team.  Each division was split in half, with six teams in White and six teams in red, in other words division 1 had divisions white and red, and the same for the other divisions. Format for players was 1&2 v 1&2 set 1, 3&4 v 3&4 set 2, 1&2 v 1&2 set 3, 3&4 v 3&4 set 4, 1&3 v 1&3 set 5, 2&4 v 2&4 set 6, 1&3 v 2&4 set 7 and 2&4 v 1&3 set 8.    Red and White did not play each other in the finals.  In about 12 months there were too many teams to play at these centres and Ladies  Mid Week were asked to take over the competition, and it was then played on all different surfaces.

About 1987  some players did not want to travel far, and players from Caloundra and Little Mountain split the competition taking teams from south of the Maroochy River. The Caloundra/Little Mountain comp. played the same format but with no lunch supplied. After one season a meeting was held between both committees. The outcome being that Ladies Mid Week would run the both competitions as one again.  

About 1989 a tournament was held at Washington Street Nambour to celebrate 20 years of  Sunshine Coast Ladies Mid Week Tennis Competition. At that time Ann-Marie Gall was President. She played for Nambour Heights.

Prior to 1994 it was decided at an AGM to have 2 equal competitions per year, Autumn starting in February and finishing in June, and Spring starting in July and finishing in November, also a three week final. Also that we would run the 4 players aside format, as well as run the 6 aside for the main competition. Within 2 years everyone was playing 4 aside.   As it is today. 

In 1994 we had 96 teams playing in 12 divisions. Alinga Tennis Centre had 7 teams, Caloundra 12 teams, Connondale 1 team, Coolum 5, Cooroy 2, Eumundi 3, Gheerulla 2, Headland 7, Jolly Rogers 1, Kawana 5, Kimbre at Yandina 2, Kocho Road Nambour (private court) 1, Landsborough 1, Little Mountain 2, Maleny 1, Maroochydore 1, Mooloolaba 5, Mooloolah 4, Nambour Heights 4, Nambas 2, Noosa 2,  Oasis Tennis Centre Palmwoods 4, Palmwoods 1, Peregian 4, Taproots at Palmwoods (private court) 2, Tewantin 3, Twin Waters 2, Washington St Nambour 2, Witta 3 and  Woombye 1.  In the mid ’80s we also had teams from Bli Bli, 2 private courts at Diddillibah, Kenilworth, Montville and Yandina.  

in the early years our Executive Committee consisted of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Publicity Officer. Recorders were not on the committee and we had a sub-committee to do the Draw, this sub-committee was chaired by Fay Gibson who played for Woombye.  About 1989/90  we Incorporated and the Executive and Draw committees and the Recorders merged to become the Management Committee as it is today. 

The format that we play today came into being after 1996. Over the years the number of teams playing have dwindled down to 30 teams playing in Autumn 2011.

This account is as I remember it.  In 1982 I was asked to go on the draw committee and become a recorder, I have held various positions including President, with a few years break at different times. The Ladies on the committee work very hard, and I have loved working with them all.   

In the mid 1980’s I wrote a similar account which was placed in a Time Capsule in Railway Square in Nambour, it is due to be opened some time after 2040.

Helen Fletchett