22 September 2016 | Tennis Victoria

A loyal member of the local Gippsland tennis community, Traralgon’s Sally Kirstine has been awarded a Tennis Victoria Highly Commended Tennis Service Award last week at a special presentation at the Loy Yang Yinnar & District Tennis Association delegates meeting at Morwell Tennis Club.

Sally has represented herself at the highest level in a playing capacity for many years. She is a strong promoter of tennis within the education system, becoming the coach and manager of the Victorian tennis team in the School Sports Australia Pizzey Cup in 2002, a position Sally holds to this day.

Sally became President of the Latrobe Valley Juniors in 2002, where she remains today and has been recently awarded Life Membership. She has coached at all levels of tennis, always putting an emphasis on involvement and good ethics, not just winning.  Sally looks after the maintenance of the courts and their surrounds, taking care of weeding, cleaning, mowing and clearing gutters, while she regularly attends working bees.

She is a junior coordinator at Churchill and Pax Hill Tennis Clubs, organising teams for competitions. At Churchill TC, Sally has been President for 21 years, recently moving to Vice President.

Sally is a member of the Loy Yang Junior Tennis Association Committee, while she acts as a club representative for the Loy Yang Yinnar & District Senior Association. Sally writes grant submissions for clubs to seek financial support for fencing, courts, volunteers and uniforms.

Sally is also on the Advisory Panel for the Gippsland Sports Academy Tennis Program, and she is always willing to adopt new ideas and practices. Sally is a big believer in keeping smaller country tennis clubs alive and active, and her passion for the sport and community is outstanding. Congratulations Sally!

Highly Commended Tennis Service Awards are presented to five recipients each year, to those who have demonstrated their contribution to the sport of tennis through devoted and significant service to any one or more of Tennis Victoria’s affiliated tennis clubs and/or associations and/or member organisations.

Also on the night, Loy Yang Yinnar & District Tennis Association’s Graeme Stuckey was awarded a Tennis Victoria Tennis Service Award for his contribution to the sport at a grassroots level in the Latrobe Valley.

Graeme has also been involved with the Flynn Tennis Club for over 20 years, having an active role on the Committee during this time including as President.

To nominate someone from your club or association for an award click here.