The 2013 Western Australian Tennis Industry Awards Night, held on Friday 10 May at the South of Perth Yacht Club, was an opportunity for the tennis community to come together and recognise and celebrate the achievements of our states junior and senior players, officials, administrators and clubs.
Over 230 guests attended the twelfth annual event, including the Honourable Andrea Mitchell MLA, who represented the Premier and Steve Irons MP, Federal Member for Swan. Alicia Molik, Tim Sullivan of Wealth Advantage, the new major sponsor of our Western Australian Tennis Industry Awards Night and Sam Buckeridge from BGC Australia, the major sponsor of the Western Australian State Tennis League, through the Brikmakers brand, were also special guests of the evening.
Once again Club support of the event was fantastic with representatives from across Western Australia joining in the celebration, in particular Lawley Park from Albany and the Geraldton Tennis club making a special effort to attend the event.
Guests were greeted with champagne and canapés on arrival and entertained by local Jazz Trio, The Limelights, before moving into the main dining room for the formal award presentations lead by Channel 9’s Peter Vlahos as MC for the evening.
This year the quality and quantity of the nominations for all award categories was outstanding and a true testament to the level of tennis coaching, clubs and players across WA. Throughout the evening the winners of each award for 2013 were announced and celebrated.
Wealth Advantage Coaching Excellence – MLC Tennis Hot Shots was awarded to David Kerr, Lawley Park Tennis Club
Events Style Coaching Excellence – Club was awarded to Rick Willsmore, Scarborough Tennis Club
SNAP Burswood Junior Tennis Star was awarded to Storm Sanders.
Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Senior was awarded to Michael Harris, Tennis Seniors WA
Most Outstanding Tournament was awarded to the Geraldton Easter Open
Sportrophy Club of the Year which was awarded to Lawley Park Tennis Club
Karen Bucens was awarded to Megan Kauffman
Westec Volunteer Achievement Award was awarded to Gaye Hayes and Wayne Firns
Service to Tennis was awarded to Rob Kilderry
The Brikmakers State League Championships was recognised during the evening with Sam Buckeridge, BGC Australian Director, presenting the winning Brikmakers State League shields. The Hensman Park Tennis Club Women’s Team, Teiwa Casey, Sophie Allen-Fisher, Jade Flindell, Tara Dunhill and Megan Kauffman accepted the winning shield for the Women’s League. While the Cottesloe Tennis Club Men’s Team, Strahinja Bobusic, Brett Patten, Christian Prendiville and Brad Dyer accepted the winning Brikmakers State League Sheild for the Men’s League.
The evening also saw the WA Officials recognised with the following awards presented for excellence in their field:
Chair Umpire of the Year was awarded to Ali Chitgar
Dawn Hay Tray (commitment to the division) was awarded to Vic Sabbioni
Novice Umpire of the Year was awarded to Rosario Corvaia
Official of the Year was awarded to Dawn Hay
The evening ended with a very special presentation made by Greg Hutchinson, Preseident of Tennis West, where Honourable Andrea Mitchell MLA and Michael Lee where presented with Life Membership of Tennis West, an honour that recognises their passion, commitment and dedication to both Tennis in Western Australia and the Tennis West Organisation. Both Andrea and Michael have given over 20 years of service to tennis in Western Australia and at a local, national and international level and have made their mark on what Tennis is today.
Throughout the evening raffle tickets were sold to support the Tennis West’s 100 Club program to assist our top WA junior players to reach their potential. The raffle was drawn at the conclusion of the official proceedings by Alicia Molic which saw Reabold Tennis Clubs, Jane Glass win the stunning pearl pendant from Brinkhaus Jewellers valued at over $3,200. Congratulations Jane!
Once the formal presentations were over guests took to the dance floor where DJ Dyson Peppin kept the crowd entertained until the conclusion of the evening.
Tennis West would like to thank all of the sponsors, dignitaries and tennis enthusiasts who attended the evening. In particular a big thank you to Wealth Advantage, the major sponsor of tonight’s event; Events Style, the official event stylist; Snap Burswood Official Printer; Accolade Wines; Brinkhaus Jewellers; Spotrophy and Westec Electrical.
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