27 April 2023 | Tennis Victoria

Congratulations to Michael Kennedy on receiving a Tennis Victoria Service Award for his incredible contributions to tennis at Mt. Prospect Tennis Association.

Michael (Mick) has been a lifelong advocate of tennis, with his whole family being involved in Tennis at Mt Prospect. When Mick took over as President in 2005, he brought strong leadership skills to Mt Prospect, and set the basis for a well-functioning committee, one that is certainly reaping the rewards today.

Since stepping down as President, Mick has remained heavily involved as Twilight Director. Along with that, Mick has used his Project Management expertise to assist with many capital works projects that have occurred.

Mick took over as President in 2005 in what was a turbulent time for the club, facing drought, which for a venue with 16 grass courts, was a big issue. Mick brought stability to the committee as a whole. At one stage the Club had to rely on water to be trucked in, as there was no access to the mains water, or another source of water. Understanding that this process wasn’t sustainable, Mick worked with the local council in deepening a new lake, along with ensuring that the runoff of rain from the courts, clubhouse etc. was filtering into this lake. It resulted in having access to a more sustainable source of water.

“We came very close during the 2005 season, when we were unable to use town water due to restrictions. With the assistance of Porter Plant, we installed piping down to Park Lake and were able to pump water under the advice from the Hepburn Shire. Subsequently Murray Goulburn Water advised us we required a permit and we had to cease pumping water. Hepburn Shire then supplied their water tanker which drove onto the courts and watered which wasn’t that effective. On Christmas Eve of that year, we installed the 2 big water tanks which saved the day.”

Mick was the driver behind the Twilight Corporate Competition commencing in 2004. The competition has gone from strength to strength and has ensured that Mt Prospect has remained financially viable, along with attracting many new players to the club.

“In 2004 the Ballarat Indoor closed and we saw that there was an opportunity to attract players to MPTA. Tracey Holmes, David Hay and myself came up with the concept of a Twilight Competition, we developed proposals for Major and Minor Sponsors, we were able to get Roadcon on board as the first major sponsor and the rest is history, still going strong today after 19 years.”

Congratulations Mick and thank you for your contribution to tennis in Victoria.