7 September 2011 | Tennis Victoria

Tennis is a sport that boasts to be for people of all ages and abilities. No matter how old, young or skilled you may be, tennis is a sport that you can still participate in. This overarching philosophy is certainty demonstrated through Essendon Tennis Club’s Seniors’ Social Program.

The program dates back over 25 years when four senior members of the Essendon TC approached the committee to request an allocated time when they could use the courts for a social hit. From the humble beginning of four men and a two-hour timeslot each week, it has increased to 60 participants and is a three-day-a-week obsession for the tennis-mad veterans.

The players range from 54 to 93 years of age and program organiser Rex Cave estimates the average age to be about 73. Probably the most remarkable of the participants is Gordon Crewther who will turn 93 in 2011 and still comes along for a hit each Wednesday. Gordon has been playing tennis since he was 10 years old at his local church club in Canterbury. In 1996 he joined the lads at Essendon in the Seniors’ Social Program and hasn’t looked back since.

One of the great aspects of the program is the social nature. Every Wednesday sees about 35-45 participants down at the club with each participant bringing a plate of food for lunch. At around 12:00pm the tennis stops for everyone to enjoy some food and company. On the first Wednesday of the month a BBQ is cooked and the lunch is chaired by one of the players and any sickies, leave passes and general discussion is taken while finishing with a few jokes the other members have found on the internet. There are special awards handed out for the day like the ‘dummy spit award’ if anyone had acted up on court.

The program runs all year round only stopping if a public holiday like Anzac Day or Christmas Day falls on either a Monday, Wednesday or Friday and of course Good Friday.

It is a round robin format where a court captain is chosen for the day and their duties include grouping four participants together, of like ability, to play a set. Each set consists of eight games, changing sides after four games. Scores are forgotten as soon as the players leave the court. The players are then grouped in a different group of four and play another set. Each player usually plays around 3-4 sets but can play as many or as little as they like.

Rex Cave said numbers have been steady in the past 10 years, describing the group as one of the fittest and healthiest around.

With the enthusiasm of this group it is no wonder that they are one of Tennis Victoria’s biggest Seniors’ Social Programs going around.

Chris Saliba, Tennis Victoria’s Community Tennis Officer – Metropolitan West was in awe of the program when he went out to visit.

“After speaking to Rex and hearing about how big the program was I had to go out and see it firsthand,” said Saliba.

“I was amazed at the numbers they get to the program and what a great atmosphere it was with everyone enjoying their tennis and finishing with lunch and a chat. I hope when I am 70 there is a program like this I can join.

Tennis Victoria would love to initiate more of these types of programs across other clubs as there is certainly a market for it.”