On Thursday, 13 June Gwyn White celebrated her 100th birthday in grand style at the Alexander Park Tennis Club. Surrounded by her many friends in a packed clubhouse Gwyn was indeed the “life of the party”.
Daughter Joy, son Ian and other tennis buddies recalled many interesting, and at times risqué, stories relating to Gwyn and her sporting life.
Gwyn White (nee Shirley) was born in Claremont on 11 June 1913. At four and a half she was the youngest student at the then new Graylands infant school. At 17 she took up tennis and without any coaching was an instant champion. Her first club was the ANA later to become Claremont Tennis Club. The White family were founding members of Floreat Park Tennis Club, however as the club did not have an “A” grade ladies pennant team Gwyn represented Subiaco and won four consecutive victories from 1949/50 to 1952/53. In those formidable teams with Gwyn were the Ryan girls, Margaret Heron and Margot Arcus.
Loton Park became Gwyn’s next club and in 1994 she and others joined Alexander Park where son Ian was a life member and former President.
At 60 years young and approaching her prime the formation of Tennis Seniors in 1973 opened new opportunities for Gwyn to excel on courts all over the world. One of her many victories came in the 1988 Australasian Veteran’s Championships in Perth when at age 75 she was a member of the winning ladies 60s team.
Gwyn went on to represent her country at world Senior’s carnivals. There was one match in Perth in 2001 at Alexander Park where she teamed up with fellow club member Judy Sartori and they easily defeated a much younger pair who were heard to say ‘we were beaten by an 87 year old and her partner with one eye”. Else Crow had everyone present in stiches of laughter (and some of the men blushing) with stories of her trips abroad with Gwyn.
It was just a wonderful day and Gwyn is an inspiration to us all and truly a living legend in the sport we all love.
A contribution by Ken Brown
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