8 September 2015 | Tennis Victoria

Gary, congratulations on your appointment as President of the Tennis Victoria Board.

Thank you, I am very honoured to be in this position and I look forward to achieving a great deal over the next few years.

For our affiliates that don’t know you, you grew up in the country and started tennis at a young age?

I grew up in Panmure, a small country town between Terang and Warrnambool. I started playing at a young age on the local bitumen courts with my Dad teaching my older sister and I the game. I loved the game and very quickly became hooked. My Dad and I built a grass court at our farm which in addition to spending a lot of time practicing, I had to maintain! I progressed into playing at the Warrnambool Lawn TC and spent many happy weekends at the club. The highlight of my junior playing years was to be asked to practice with the Linton Cup squad at Kooyong.

You left the sport for a period of time to take up Aussie Rules footy? What brought you back to tennis?

At age 17, I was invited to play at the Fitzroy Football Club and played under 19s and Reserves there. This coincided with shifting to Melbourne for university. My involvement in football both at Fitzroy and back at Terang effectively paid my way through university. As a result, I drifted away from tennis for a number of years.

Whilst I played on and off whilst living in Portland, I seriously came back to the sport when my children, Jackson and Miranda were old enough to learn. I spent countless Saturday mornings and mid-week evenings being a tennis Dad! Nowadays, both my kids are in their early twenties and both are still playing and heavily involved in the sport. Jackson has played grade 1 Pennant and is a qualified coach and Miranda is a regular Pennant player and on the Committee at the Melbourne University Tennis Club. As a family, we have enjoyed playing at the Swan Hill Easter and the Warrnambool Labor Day Tournaments.

Your club is Liston Tennis Club, how did your involvement at the club begin?

I lived in Portland in South West Victoria for seventeen years after finishing university. I ran my own legal business in the Western District. After shifting to Williamstown in January 1999, my kids started to be coached by Dane Nebel at Liston Tennis Club. It was in the course of discussions with Dane that I learnt that the club had no ongoing tenure at their current location at Commonwealth Reserve and was at risk of being bulldozed. I very quickly formed the view that that was not in the best interests of the Williamstown community. I got myself onto the Committee and very quickly became President. With the help of my friend and LTC secretary, Alan Whittington, we fought a battle over three/four years to save the club and re-establish its tenure at Commonwealth Reserve. That battle being won, I am proud to say that the club is flourishing.

What have been your playing highlights?

Simply having been able to get back on the court and enjoying my participation in Pennant and at Tournaments has been a source of great enjoyment. However, the highlight has to be winning Pennant Player of the Year in Veterans Grade 2 in 2008.

What is one of your fondest memories of tennis?

The great times I have had at Country Week over the last few years and as a family up at Swan Hill at Easter.

What is your vision for tennis in Victoria?

I want to provide the resources and environment to ensure that the greatest possible number of children can have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our sport. I would like to address the problem of our teenagers/young adults (particularly women) dropping out of the game. I would like to ensure that Tennis Victoria is able to provide all the support necessary for our Member Affiliates to be able to function at their greatest potential.

What do you hope to achieve in your time as President?

I want to continue the great achievements of the last few years in bringing important changes and innovation to Tennis Victoria. I look forward to working with both Tennis Australia and all our Clubs and Associations to increase the participation numbers and ensure ongoing facility development. In particular, I am passionate about providing the best opportunities for kids to come into and stay in the game.

Finally, some insights into you Gary.

Favourite AFL Team?

– Haven’t got one since the demise of Fitzroy!

Favourite place to visit in Victoria.

– Port Fairy

Favourite Australian Open memory?

– Watching Andrew Whittington play in the Quarter Finals of the Men’s Doubles in Rod Laver Arena.

Favourite sport other than tennis?

– I am keen on lots of sports…jogging, cycling, royal tennis, kayaking and going to the gym.

Who is your favourite player(s) to watch on the tour at the moment?

– Sam Groth.