MEN’S STATE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

David Blacklock Memorial Shield

In the mid 1960’s it was decided that both the Men’s and Women’s annual ‘A’ grade shield competition winners would be recognized with memorial trophies.

Slazenger donated a perpetual shield in memory of David Blacklock, their late Managing Director, who had been a tennis enthusiast.

In the 1966/67 shield season, Royal King’s Park became the first winner of the Blacklock Memorial Shield as the men’s ‘A’ Grade premiers.  Subsequent winners were:

WOMEN’S STATE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Laurie Toole Memorial Shield

The designation of a memorial shield for the men’s ‘A’ grade in the mid 1960’s prompted similar moves for the women’s ‘A’ grade.  An opportunity arose from sad circumstances when Laurie Toole, a great volunteer worker for the Association, died of a heart attack on 25 March 1967.  Laurie  played his early tennis in the 1930’s on the Goldfields, and later represented the Goldfields Association on the WALTA Council for many years.  As a teacher he was devoted to the development of tennis in schools, and was a member of the WALTA Junior Development Committee for over 20 years.  A band of anonymous donors presented a memorial shield in September 1967 to the President of WALTA, Norm Wasley, and the inscription read “In honour of a man who devoted a lifetime to the promotion of tennis.”

STATE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS MVP’s