Congratulations to Tina Keown (Victorian Tennis Academy) and Hayden Eastwood (Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club) who were both recognised for their contribution to tennis at the Victorian Sport Awards on Wednesday 12 June.
Tina was awarded the Gallagher Community Coach of the Year Award. This award recognises Victorian community coaches who have made a significant contribution to their club and/or association/district during the 2023 calendar year, with a particular focus on improving community sport through encouraging participation, fairness, integrity and making sport more welcoming and inclusive.
Hayden received the VAILO Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognises the exceptional contribution made by a volunteer to the Victorian sport and active recreation community during the 2023 calendar year. The recipient’s contribution will have provided benefit to, or had a positive impact upon, an individual sport or the industry and their contribution and commitment will have distinguished them from their peers.
Congratulations Tina and Hayden and thank you for everything you contribute to tennis in Victoria.
More about the winners:
Tina Keown – Tennis
Managing director of the Victorian Tennis Academy (VTA), Tina Keown coaches and oversees operations across four tennis clubs and centres that provide programs for all ages, standards, abilities and backgrounds. Following a collaboration between the Victoria College for the Deaf and VTA, Tina and her team learnt Auslan so coaching sessions could be offered without an interpreter and she helped set up Nexus Young Veterans for returned servicepeople to focus on their health and re-enter their local community. A ‘Sponsor a Child’ program provided a free term of lessons for lucky participants and Tina is also a Tennis Australia Women and Girls program ambassador, implementing recruitment drives and fostering connections with stakeholders.
Hayden Eastwood – Tennis
Hayden Eastwood’s goal as President of Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club is to use his sport as a vehicle to connect all aspects of the community. Initiatives have included an LGBTIQ+ Pride event and Rainbow Sets which provides weekly tennis specifically for the LGBTIQ+ community. A Future Stars program allows children to play tennis the way they want, an Acknowledge of Country sign was added to the club, ‘Smashing the Patriarchy, one ball at a time’ focused on increasing female participation, ‘LoveAll’ strengthened ties with marginalised sections of the community and ‘Art of Winning’ consolidated ties with Castlemaine artistic communities as the Club truly proved they were open to all.
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