25 January 2011 | Tennis Victoria

The Sale Tennis Club is the joint winner of the Victorian Good Sports Club of the Year award. The club won for the award for their responsible management of alcohol and for providing a safe and healthy environment for their members and the community. Club members were presented with the award and a cheque for $1000 at the Australian Drug Foundation’s annual Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Oration at the State Library of Victoria.

Robin Lowe, President Sale Tennis Club, said prior to joining the Good Sports program, the club had a drinking culture that detracted from the main focus as to why members of the club were there.

“Unfortunately for some considerable time alcohol was seen as an essential accompaniment to the on court activities and was not always consumed responsibly or safely,” said Mr. Lowe.

He indicated that all cultural changes do take time and thee were some who resisted, but he believes the Good Sports program has changed the attitude of members.

“The first few people to be refused service were openly hostile, however the broader membership began to notice the change and could see the advantages that flowed from this. Ultimately alcohol consumption has become almost self regulating as it is no longer an accepted part of our culture,” he added.

Barry Switzer GippSport’s Executive Officer said that the Sale Tennis Club can be justly proud of the changes they have made within the club. “We have 135 accredited Good Sports Clubs in the Gippsland Region alone and for them to be joint winners of the state wide award is a great achievement,” said Mr. Switzer. All clubs who are serious about providing a safe family friendly environment should be an accredited Good Sports club he concluded.

Good Sports is a nationwide program of the Australian Drug Foundation which encourages sporting clubs to become safer, healthier and more family friendly through the responsible management of alcohol. The majority of accredited Good Sports clubs have a liquor licence. With almost 4,000 clubs participating nationwide, the Good Sports program is free to join and easy to sign up to. Visit www.goodsports.com.au for more information.