The Taieri Tennis Club, which is located on the Pearl of the Plains (Mosgiel, Dunedin), has come a long way celebrating the Club’s 140th anniversary, on Saturday 23rd September 2023. This makes Taieri the oldest tennis club in NZ, which has continuously operated since opening day in 1883. The Club flourishes on all levels under the current Committee members who have the love of tennis in their hearts, and fire in their veins. Alexis ROBIN (President), with his wingman, Steve WILSON (Secretary), are steering the Club into the future with great zest.
The Taieri Tennis Club 140th Anniversary Dinner Committee was originally coordinated by our own joyful tennis-member, Joy HORREL, whom had to dash off to a family event and left the coordination of the events in the hands of our event committee members. Great were the meetings, planning and execution of this Anniversary Dinner event. The committee which consisted of Gill McFARLANE, Alexis ROBIN, Daryll REDDINGTON, Keith RUTHVEN, Kobus & Willa FABER and Steve WILSON were all under strict instructions to have fun and not to stress with the organising.
We obtained the services of Graeme BROWN to be our own very delightful Master of Ceremonies. There were speakers, Peter BATHGATE, Keith RUTHVEN, Roger MILLAR who reminisced over all the past fun, fundraising events, tennis games and friendships which were formed. The evening was also supported by the Dunedin City Council’s Counsellor Carmen HOULAHAN, whose mum Kate WILSON is also an avid tennis player. Jaden GRINTER, our head coach, and Charlie BYERS represented the club on the youth coaching front. It was great to hear from Charlie BYERS, Otago’s No 1 female tennis player, who has big dreams for her tennis future, and who is well supported by her mum, Tracy BYERS, and the whole club. Stephen BRENSSELL, a life-member himself, presented two new life-members, Laraine CUTTANCE and Ross MERRETT, with their Life-Members-Badges.
A big thank you to our sponsors, our photographer (Jo CUTTANCE), life-members, old members, young members, committees, community supporters, organisers, Otago Daily Times and tennis players from all over NZ and overseas, who contributed to our memorabilia table, showered us with love and attended this event to made it extra memorable.
Taieri Tennis Club welcomes everyone, we keep the community on the move, fit, coached, competitive and here we form friendships for life. We LOVE TENNIS and ONE ANOTHER.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
To read more about Taieri Tennis Club History follow this link https://taieritennis.co.nz/history/
Willa & Co
Taieri Tennis Club Anniversary Dinner Coordinator
ABOVE: (L-R) Jaden Grinter (coach), Charlie Byers (Otago no. 1 female tennis player & coach), Graeme Brown (MC), Alexis Robin (Club President), Keith Ruthven (club member), Councillor Carmen Houlahan and her mum Kate Wilson.
BELOW: Memorabilia tables
