By Deanne Jeffers
OVER EASTER, Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club will mark 100 years of the Easter Tournament. Ahead of the centenary milestone, players past and present got together to socialise and share memories.
Club stalwart, John Starritt, reflected on its history saying, “My first time was ’59 or ’58, and you used to have to pay to get in and there were so many good players here that people came from all over prepared to pay money to get in and see them play.
“Paul McNamee who played internationally, Peter McNamara, John McCurdy who was in the last 16 at Wimbledon, Nicole Provis, Leslie Turner – there a whole lot of really good names and it’s something we’re very proud of.”
The tournament has an incredible history adorned by grand slam champions, Davis Cup representatives and local legends alike. Neale Fraser won the Easter Tournament the year before he won Wimbledon and returned after winning the competition, and current Australian Number One and World Top Ten player, Alex de Minaur, took out the Singles title just nine years ago.To celebrate the milestone and the club’s rich history, they commissioned a book by local authors Peter Matthews and Geoff Allemand. Past club president, Mal Thiel, who has overseen the publication of 100 Years off Easter Tournaments and History of the Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club, said it has been two years in the making.
This coming weekend, the 100th names will be added to the honour boards, as the club prepares to welcome more than 650 players from across the state for the 100-year-strong tennis tournament.
Giving past and present club members a taste for the action, during the event on Friday night to celebrate 100 years, a doubles match was played by Eliza Bingham and Nicolas Guttuso vs. Josie New and Luke Dixon.
The Easter Tournament begins Good Friday and concludes Easter Sunday, with prizes, live entertainment and food all weekend long. For more information or to secure a copy of their new book, visit Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club on Facebook
