19 February 2013 | Tennis West

David Kerr from the Great Southern and Esperance region, Western Australia is the 2012 National 5 Star Community Coach Award winner for the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program. 

David has been involved in the AASC program since 2010 and during this time has worked across four sites, providing tennis activities to more than 300 children. More than 50 of these children have gone on to join local tennis clubs across the Great Southern and Esperance region.

David is an excellent ambassador for the AASC program, representing multiple tennis clubs as well as being a strong advocate for the Playing for Life approach, which promotes the importance of a game-based approach to coaching. 

He has been involved in countless AASC initiatives as well as mentoring several young coaches and newly formed clubs. Most recently, he was a key organiser in arranging Hot Shots ambassador, Alicia Molick to visit Albany for a community event.

This resulted in a number of AASC and grassroots sports participants meeting the tennis legend in person and experiencing some world-class action on court.

Local AASC Regional Coordinator, Tim Widdison said, ‘It has been great working with David over the past two years. He has been an invaluable asset to the AASC program and a true ambassador of the Playing for Life philosophy.

‘When out at sites, it is obvious to see the respect that both participants and staff have for David and his coaching methods. I gave no hesitation in recommending him for the National award.’