27 June 2016 | Tennis Victoria

Notting Hill / Pinewood Tennis Club was named Most Outstanding Club, Centre or Association on Monday evening at Tennis Victoria’s Championships Dinner, proudly presented by ANZ.

 The Victorian Tennis Awards were presented at the MCG in front of almost 400 guests, who were treated to a special one-on-one interview between Gerard Whateley and Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Catherine Freeman OAM.

Winning the major award of the night, Notting Hill / Pinewood were a standout club in the 2015/16 year due to an innovative management model which sees them manage both the club and coaching operations. The Club’s culture and programs have seen them decrease membership churn rate and increase ANZ Tennis Hot Shots participation. The club currently have 41% of coaching participants aged between 13-18 years, which bucks the trend of adolescence drop off in sport. Watch the video here.

The Glen Waverley club has established a female only sub-committee and hosts multicultural food nights as well as being actively involved in Tennis Victoria initiatives such as ‘Kids on Court’ at the Australian Open.

“The Victorian Tennis Awards and annual Championships Dinner offer a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the successes of our vibrant Victorian Tennis community. I congratulate all of the finalists and winners and thank our hard working volunteers, officials, coaches, parents and athletes for contributing to our great sport of tennis,” said Tennis Victoria Acting CEO, Belinda Kleverlaan.

Jaimee Fourlis (Preston), took home the Junior Female Athlete of the Year, having made the semi-finals of the Australian Open Junior doubles and second round in the Junior singles competition. Jaimee also won her maiden $25k Pro Circuit Tour title in Perth and represented Australia in the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final.

Maribyrnong’s Ken Cavrak claimed the Junior Male Athlete of the Year award, adding his name to the honour roll which includes Mark Philippoussis, Chris Guccione, and Omar Jasika. Cavrak won the 14/u singles and doubles titles at the Australian Championships in December and has been awarded a National Academy Training Agreement.

A highlight of the night was the inclusion of Cedric Mason to Tennis Victoria’s Spirit of Tennis honour roll. A life member of both powerhouse club’s in Victoria, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club and Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, Mason joins the likes of former world No.1 Frank Sedgman, Neale Fraser, Judy Dalton, Margaret Court and Pat Cash. Watch the video here.

Brimbank City Council were awarded the inaugural Supporting Tennis – Local Government Recognition award, St Gregory the Great Primary School were named the Most Outstanding School while Dylan Alcott continued his dominance in the Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability category, winning it for the third consecutive year.

Check out the photo album from the night here.

Full List of 2015/16 Victorian Tennis Award winners is below.

Most Outstanding Club, Centre or Association

Notting Hill / Pinewood Tennis Club (Glen Waverley)

Spirit of Tennis             

Cedric Mason (Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club & Royal South Yarra Tennis Club)

Volunteer Achievement

Terry Flynn (Maffra Lawn Tennis Club)

Supporting Tennis – Local Government Recognition

Brimbank City Council

Coaching Excellence – Club or Centre             

Adrian Muscillo (Eildon Park Tennis Club)

Coaching Excellence – ANZ Tennis Hot Shots

Vicky Lee (Doncaster Tennis Club)

Most Outstanding School     

St Gregory the Great Primary School (Doncaster)

Most Outstanding Tournament

Bendigo Bank Winter JT and AMT

Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Senior            

Peter Keller (Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre)

Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability

Dylan Alcott (St Kilda)

Junior Athlete of the Year – Female 

Jaimee Fourlis (MCC Tennis)

Junior Athlete of the Year – Male

Ken Cavrak (Green Gully Tennis Club)