6 March 2013 | Tennis Victoria

Victorian Country Tennis Association (VCTA) administrators Pat Gilchrist and Carol Pearce have received the Tennis Victoria Tennis Service Award for years of hard work within the tennis community.

The award recognises and acknowledges “devoted and significant service to one or more of the State Tennis Association affiliated tennis clubs and/or associations and/or member organisations”.

Both Gilchrist and Pearce, or Pat and Carol as they are affectionately known, have served the country tennis community for over 30 years at both club and association level.

“This award is a great recognition for our work from the state body of our peers,” said Gilchrist.

“It’s very humbling considering all that have gone before us.”

The pair first met in the 1983/84 seasons where they established a strong working relationship including, since 1991,  turning the VCTA Country Week tournament into the pinnacle teams event in Victoria that it is today. Over 1100 players participate in the annual grasscourt event that’s held in country Victoria.

Gilchrist joined the VCTA as a Delegate in 1984 before she became an Administrator in 1990, a position she still holds. Pearce joined the VCTA as the Secretary in 1986 before becoming the Treasurer in 1987, a position she also still holds. Both were awarded Life Membership of the VCTA in 2009.

Gilchrist and Pearce are also Life Members of the Mount Prospect District Senior Tennis Association (awarded 1999 and 2001 respectively), the Mount Prospect Mid-week Ladies (awarded 2007) and the Ballarat Country Tennis Association (awarded 2009).

The Mount Prospect Midweek Ladies competition was established by Gilchrist and Pearce in 1988. Gilchrist held the position of President, and Pearce Secretary/Treasurer from the commencement through to 2006.

Both have been awarded the Sportsman’s Association of Australia Ballarat Branch Administrator of the Year Award, Gilchrist in 2002 and Pearce in 2004.

Along with these fine achievements, Gilchrist and Pearce have an extensive list of accomplishments within the tennis community and Tennis Victoria would like to congratulate them for their years of hard work and dedication to tennis in Victoria.