21 February 2023 | Tennis Victoria

Humans of Country Week

Throughout the week, there have been some exciting stories from Country Week 2023. Whether players have been at Country Week for 40 years or if this year was their first time, Country Week is a wonderful time to reunite with friends, family and play some great tennis on the lawn courts. We inducted our Country Week Legends this week, and you can read all about them here.

The Culcairn Silverbacks

The Culcairn Silverbacks were not always called the Silverbacks. However, when Keith McElhinney started going grey early, the team decided to rebrand. The team is mostly made up of different generations of family and have been coming to Country Week for over 24 years. Hopefully their Silverback bear can be their good luck charm!

Jo Baker and Veronica Roache

When opponents Jo Baker and Veronica Roache met each other at the net, they reunited after Jo was Veronica’s teacher in Apollo Bay in the 70s! The pair played at the same club for a few years after high school but matching up as opponents at Country Week is a first!

The Kelly Gang

Hannah, Bridget, Rebecca, Alice, Lauren and Elaine from the Kelly Gang are Country Week first-timers! Hannah and Bridget were watching on the sidelines in Swan Hill last year but were inspired to pick up the racquet for the first time ever and join the Kelly Gang! All the girls have had a fun and successful first two days of Country Week

Sandra Allen

Country Week 2023 is Sandra’s 40th consecutive Country Week! Sandra was appointed a Country Week Legend in 2020 after her contribution to the tournament over the years. Sandra has had many memories over the years at Country Week but loves seeing her friends and the community come together every year for some fun competition 💪

The Match Makers

Serena, Phillipa, Majella, Helen and Lisa from the Match Makers have been travelling to play at Tennis Victoria’s Country Week from Brisbane every year for the last four years! The ladies love coming down to Victoria for the event to play some tennis and reunite with their friends they’ve met along the way 🥰

The Langstaff family

Travelling four and a half hours from Leongatha, the Langstaff family have had a long history at Country Week with three generations of the family playing this year for the first time! Neil has attended since 1997, and now his 15 year old grandson Zac and 13 year old grandson Ethan are continuing the tradition

The Goulburn Murray Grinders

Ellie, Hope, Sabrina, Ella and Gen from the Goulburn Murray Grinders came to their first Country Week this year! The Uni students are lucky to not start for another few weeks so they’ve made the most of their break. The team have had an amazing week and look forward to coming back every year!

Patty’s team

Kaye Anderson, Joy Woodham, Gerry Stephens, Carmel Wileman, Jo Baker and Heather Lees and Glenda Dempster from Patty’s Team are all Country Week veterans.

Kaye Anderson from Patty’s Team has been coming to Country Week for over 29 years. Featuring our Country Week Legend, Carmel Wileman, the whole team are full of legendary ladies. They are from all over Victoria but have a special bond and play with each other yearly. Some of their highlights include winning their final in 2001, but every year where they get to play together is their favourite part of Country Week. Special shoutout to long time Country Week member Lyn Rodgers who had to have knee reconstruction and couldn’t make it this year.

Sylvia McClean