Alexander Park Tennis Club has claimed victory in two of the prestigious award categories at the 2017 WA Tennis Industry Awards Night held last Friday at the State Reception Centre, Kings Park.
The club was named Most Outstanding Large Club for the third time in six years, and also received the gong for the Most Outstanding Australian Ranking (AR) Tournament for the 2017 Summer Silver Tournament hosted by the club in January.
Alexander Park TC was one of three finalists for the Most Outstanding Large Club, and was a standout performer in their class, owing largely to the club’s inviting culture, accessibility to the community, and implementation of Tennis Australia programs and competitive opportunities for players.
In the Most Outstanding AR Tournament award category, the 2017 Summer Silver Tournament was one of 4 nominees and 2 finalists. The success of the tournament was largely attributed to the Club working closely with the local community—including the City of Stirling, local universities and schools, a nearby retirement village, a local swim centre and local businesses to ensure the tournament had much wider involvement and appeal than a normal event.
For the first time, the Most Outstanding Club Award was split into 2 categories – Large Club and Small Club (12 or less courts), with Bullcreek Tennis Club and Margaret River Tennis Club sharing the accolade in the Small Club Category.
Bullcreek Tennis Club was acknowledged for their success in securing the club’s financial position, and retaining its membership base by ensuring the club has outstanding facilities for its members and the community to access and enjoy. The annual Operational Health Check confirms the strong position of the club, including a healthy ratio of 32 members per court.
In 2016, Bullcreek Tennis Club was successful in being part of the Book a Court pilot program with Tennis West, which saw the installation of an online court booking system, leading to improved management of court availability at peak times, and high public court hire usage.
Likewise, Margaret River Tennis Club have established themselves as a community hub within the small town, offering a range of pennant and social tennis options, along with community events that ensure any person regardless of their age, ability or experience is welcome at the club.
In the Volunteer Achievement Award Category, Onslow Park Tennis Club stalwart, James Edwards was recognised for his 13 year tenure as President of the Club, during which time he has reinvigorated Onslow Park from an all-grasscourt club, breaking even, with less than 100 members, into a 4 hardcourt, 7 grasscourt club with thriving juniors, pennants, adult memberships and social memberships. Onslow Park now has 240 members and is looking to convert 2 underutilised grass courts into flood-lit hard courts to enable Onslow Park to grow further.
Keith O’Brien from the Upper Great Southern Tennis Association was recognised with the Service to Tennis Award, Keith first joined the Upper Great Southern Tennis Association committee in 2006 as treasurer and since this time has held various roles, including his current role as President, which he has held since 2011. Along with his role as the President, Keith also runs his family farm in Wickepin, but also manages to find the time to be an active coach for the association and other towns located outside of the zone, including Narrogin, Williams, Wagin, Wickepin, Beverley, Corrigin, Dumbleyung, Dudinin, Nyabing, Kondinin and Tarin Rock.
In the Coaching Award Categories, Rhys McDougall from Mt Lawley TC took home the Coaching Excellence: Club Award, while Cameron Fenner from Midland Lawn Tennis Club received the Coaching Excellence: Talent Development Award, for his notable achievements with 12/U athletes.
Riverton Primary School and John Forrest Secondary College shared the honors in the Most Outstanding School Category, with both schools recognised for their efforts in promoting a culture of tennis within their school and developing partnerships with their local club and surrounding community.
This year a new category of award was introduced – the Local Government Award, aimed at recognising the Local Government Authorities who are engaged with, and supportive of tennis in their community. In particular, those councils who are delivering capital investment and supporting clubs to become sustainable and accessible to their community.
The City of Kwinana was awarded the inaugural Local Government Award for their work with the Kwinana Tennis Club in membership development, infrastructure development and presence within the local community.
This year there was a record number of Award Nominations for the WA Tennis Industry Awards, with over 50 submissions across all 17 Award Categories.
“The WA Tennis Industry Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate tennis in Western Australia and recognise the outstanding achievements of our State’s junior and senior players, officials, coaches, volunteers, administrators and clubs” said Tennis West President, Wayne Firns
“Tennis is experiencing fantastic growth in WA at the moment and this event is a great opportunity to take stock, reflect on the achievements of everyone and enjoy each other’s company.”
All winners of the WA Tennis Industry Awards Night were nominated for their respective categories at the Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards to be held at Crown Melbourne on Monday 27 November.
Professional Photos from this event can be viewed and downloaded from:
https://damophotography.smugmug.com/Events/WA-Tennis-Industry-Awards-6th-Oct-2017/
(Password: tennis2017)
The full list of 2017 WA Tennis Industry Awards Winners is detailed below:
JUNIOR TENNIS STAR
Tristan Schoolkate
KAREN BUCENS AWARD
Skye Royall
Empire Insurance Group COACHING EXCELLENCE – CLUB
Rhys McDougall, Mt Lawley Tennis Club
PAV Events COACHING EXCELLENCE – TALENT DEVELOPMENT
Cameron Fenner, Midland Lawn Tennis Club
KC Sports MOST OUTSTANDING SCHOOL
Riverton Primary School & John Forrest Secondary College (Joint Winners)
Tim Davies Landscaping LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD
City of Kwinana
STATE LEAGUE CHAMPION MEN’S TEAM
Hensman Park Tennis Club
STATE LEAGUE CHAMPION WOMEN’S TEAM
Cottesloe Tennis Club
Brinkhaus Jewellers WOMEN’S STATE LEAGUE MVP
Katy O’Shea, Blue Gum Park Tennis Club
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE MVP
Sam Ashenden, Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
Event Style MOST OUTSTANDING AR TOURNAMENT
2017 Summer Silver Tournament, Alexander Park Tennis Club
Ansa Global EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING
Trevor Mitchell
Shade Engineering MOST OUTSTANDING 35+ TENNIS SENIOR
Henry Michael, Tennis Seniors WA
Current Electrical Service VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Edwards, Onslow Park Tennis Club
Discus on Demand SERVICE TO TENNIS AWARD
Keith O’Brien, Upper Great Southern Tennis Association
Sportrophy MOST OUTSTANDING SMALL CLUB
Bullcreek Tennis Club & Margaret River Tennis Club (Joint winners)
Sportrophy MOST OUTSTANDING LARGE CLUB
Alexander Park Tennis Club
The WA Tennis Industry Awards Night, was held on Friday 6 October and was proudly presented by major sponsor KC Sports. The prestigious event celebrates tennis in Western Australia and recognises the outstanding achievements of our state’s junior and senior players, officials, coaches, administrators and volunteers.
Tennis West would like to thank KC Sports and all of our Award Sponsors for their generous contribution to this event, including:
- Empire Insurance Group
- Current Electrical Service
- Discus on Demand
- Sportrophy
- Tim Davies Landscaping
- Ansa Global
- Shade Engineering
- Brinkhaus Jewellers
- Event Style
- PAV Events
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