18 September 2020 | Tennis Victoria

A huge transformation over the past few years has seen the Port Fairy Tennis Club go from almost being non-existent to become a thriving club with updated facilities.

In 2015, the newly reformed club committee set out to prepare a strategic plan that would guide the club moving forward. The strategic plan was developed with a set of priorities of what the club needed, in what stages, and a time frame to achieve these goals. The club could then focus on the pathway to delivering the strategic objectives and raise the required funds for the projects.

One of the priorities the club highlighted was the need for lighting on the courts and has since been successfully completed.

“Early on we did some market research to help determine an estimated budget (for lighting the courts),” Port Fairy Tennis Club Secretary, Alison Zehir, said.

“We also engaged with key stakeholders like the local council and the Southcombe Park Committee of Management so that we were clear on what we needed to do.

“With everyone onboard, we started applying for grants and kept working through all the processes we needed to comply with.

“At the same time, we worked hard as a club to raise funds to put towards the project by running raffles, seeking new sponsors and even catering at the Great Vic Bike Ride when it visited Port Fairy,” she said.

“With funding confirmed, it was time to formally go to market. The club received tenders from four lighting companies that were then assessed until one was awarded the contract in December 2019.

“In early 2020, (we) got engineering sign-off and a building permit issued. Through May and June, club volunteers gave many hours installing the underground electrical infrastructure.

“Come July, concrete was poured for the footings before the poles and lights were erected in August. The lights were then connected to our Book a Court system and tested.”

“The project was finally finished,” Zehir said.

Already reaping the benefits of an increase in night time play, the club looks forward to expanding their coaching, competition and court hire programs to make tennis accessible to members and guests and continue the hours of extended play, especially during winter months.

Head to play.tennis.com.au/portfairytennisclub for more information.