26 June 2012 | Tennis Victoria

Trophies by Winning Edge Presentations: 

The hardworking Victorian tennis community were rewarded last night at Tennis Victoria’s Championships Dinner.

The night showcased the best of Victorian tennis clubs, coaches, players and administrators. Over 300 guests enjoyed the night showcasing the best of Victorian tennis clubs, coaches, players and administrators.

Former Australian player Scott Draper said the event was a great success.

“It was first-class in terms of what was put together,” said Draper.

“It was a truly fantastic night, at a great venue with great entertainment and a great theme celebrating tennis in Victoria.”

A number of high-profile guests attended the night, including former players Draper and Richard Fromberg, the Herald Sun’s Mark Stevens, former coach of Pat Cash Ian Barclay and ABC Broadcaster Ian Cover hosted the evening.

Guests were also treated to a comedy performance by Marty Fields.

Congratulations to all award winners:

Junior Athlete of the Year – Male
Presented by Gordon Moffatt
Daniel Guccione

Daniel has been ranked number 1 in both Victoria and Australia for his 1996 birth year. He was a singles finalist and a doubles winner at the Optus 16s National Claycourt Championships and in April represented Australia as a member of the Junior Davis Cup Team.

Junior Athlete of the Year – Female
Presented by Gordon Moffatt
Zoe Hives

In 2011 Zoe claimed her first national singles title at the Optus 14s Spring Nationals and was awarded Tennis Victoria’s 2011 Grade 1 Pennant Player of the Year. In January Zoe qualified for the Australian Open Junior Girls Singles and was then selected to represent Australia as a member of the Junior Fed Cup team.

Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability
Presented by Hoyle Da Silva Lawyers
Zvi Schweitzer

Zvi has been ranked number 2 in Australia and number 4 in the world. In 2011 Zvi received a silver medal at the Global Games in doubles and reached the semifinals in singles. At the Australian Tennis Championships for players with an intellectual disability Zvi, won doubles and made the semifinals in singles. On top of competition, Zvi is committed to helping children with an intellectual disability become involved in tennis.

Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Senior
Presented by Signature Sport
Judy Hancy

In 2011 Judy captained the 65 and over world team in Turkey, winning 4 out of 5 matches. She also won the 65 and over category at the Queensland State Championships. This year she represented Tennis Seniors Australia in team events in Perth and, away from competition, Judy is heavily involved as a selector with Tennis Seniors Victoria and Tennis Seniors Australia.

Coaching Excellence – MLC Tennis Hot Shots
Presented by MLC
Wes Horskins

Wes Horskins delivers MLC Tennis Hot Shots programs at 3 affiliated venues. On top of regular coaching, Wes runs a number of innovative programs so that children of all ages can participate. With the support of his primary club – East Malvern – Wes has been very successful in introducing new kids to tennis with a strong focus on connecting with local schools by running before school and lunchtime coaching sessions at no charge.

Coaching Excellence – Club or Centre
Presented by Tennis Warehouse Australia
Shane Scrutton

With 10 years of coaching experience, Shane Scrutton is a highly respected coach and mentor at Eaglemont Tennis Club, enjoying a strong connection with the local community. Shane has successfully encouraged many students at local schools to participate in competitions and has effectively promoted tennis in his region. Shane is also involved in the Eaglemont committee and has managed to increase the number of Pennant teams from five in 2011 to seven in 2012.

Most Outstanding Tournament
Presented by Clark Toop & Taylor
2011 William Loud Bendigo International

The 2011 William Loud Bendigo International was a huge success receiving significant media coverage, particularly via WIN TV. The tournament also used social media effectively with a dedicated YouTube Channel receiving over 5000 hits. Local schools were engaged to assist in creating crowd atmosphere while players were treated to a specifically designed shuttle service to assist with transportation. The event was successful in securing thousands of dollars in sponsorship funding, pointing to an exciting future.

Volunteer Achievement
Presented by Curnow Tennis
Julie Fidler

Julie Fidler is the dedicated President of Victory Park Tennis Club and a member of a number of Tennis Victoria committees. Julie enjoys seeing young players reach their potential and is a strong supporter of new programs that will expose the broader community to tennis, such as MLC Tennis Hot Shots and Cardio Tennis. Julie’s long term association with the TCAV has kept her in stride with today’s coaching needs and, as the current TCAV President, is very proud of the position she holds

Life Membership
Geoffrey Stone

Victorian Spirit of Tennis
Ian Barclay

Ian Barclay has had a long and prestigious coaching career, including winning the Tennis Coaches Association – Victoria Coach of the Year award in 2007 and in 2011 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal.  Barclay spent 15 years from 1976 to 1991 coaching and travelling with Pat Cash, which included a famous Wimbledon victory in 1987.

Most Outstanding Club, Centre, Association or School
Presented by Winning Edge Presentations
Frankston Tennis Club

Frankston Tennis Club has developed into a fantastic example of everything that a great and vibrant local tennis club can be.

On top of its outstanding staging of many Victorian tennis events and tournaments, Frankston Tennis Club’s approach to local partnerships to grow the sport is second to none.

The club is highly respected within the local community and engages non-members in tennis by opening up courts when they are not being used by the club.

It works with the Frankston Visitor Information Centre to maximise use, exposure and joint initiatives.  And together with the Frankston Hospital – which the club sits alongside – it delivers a successful tennis participation program for local indigenous youth groups.

The club’s many activations over the past year have spanned fundraising for breast cancer and an alignment with National Youth Week to promote tennis and healthy living for youngsters.

Working through complex issues with both the Frankston City Council and the Peninsula Health Group, the club recently secured an extended tenure of its facilities.  

Photos from the night can be found on Tennis Victoria’s Facebook page.