President’s Speech by Rod Attwood - 19 February 2023

Welcome everyone, thanks to all our special guests, life members and of course past and current members who have joined us on this special occasion.

I wish to acknowledge the sad passing of our inaugural President & Life Member Peter Thomson a couple of weeks ago.

Hope you have all recovered and not been too badly affected by the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people badly affected by the cyclone in various parts of the country.

We had some water damage to the club from the Auckland floods, and are working through the repairs with the insurers. I worked yesterday to clear a large pine tree which came down at my sons place in South Head (up the road from Parakai hot pools). He has had about 15 pines down in a small block.

This anniversary has been delayed due to Covid restrictions, but we are glad to be able to finally hold it this year.

History:
We have a document penned by Peter Thomson (copies attached to the photo boards) which detail the early years of how the club got started. I will give a brief summary of this and more recent history.

In July 1971 at a public meeting at the Community Church on the avenue, a steering committee chaired by Peter Thomson was formed in order to commence the forming of the club, followed in October by the first club meeting where Peter was elected as President. At this stage there was a committee but no courts or clubrooms! Waikowhai Intermediate school courts were used as interim courts while the new Lynfield courts were built.

Courts – grants & donations were obtained and four asphalt courts were built, being completed nets swung on 23 Dec 1971. The first ball was hit between Peter & Jean Thomson and Ian and Margaret Gough in darkness but using the street lights from the avenue.

Club play commenced in January 1972, with some coaching sessions provided by Alan Burns. Junior & midweek tennis commenced the following month.

Midweek Interclub commenced in the 1972/73 season, however without clubrooms lunches were held at the Thomson residence with the added option of a swim in their pool! The Midweek section had many social and fundraising events, which they still continue to do today.

The first Christmas function was held in December 1972 with a Yankee tournament and a bbq lunch (must have been fine weather!).

Official opening – the club was officially opened by the Mayor of Mt Roskill on 26 February 1972 with a carnival atmosphere with various community group stalls and a trolley derby and crazy hat competition!

Affiliation to the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association was obtained in 1972 allowing interclub teams to compete. At the first AGM in Jul 1972 subs for the 1972/73 season were set at $8 for seniors & $1.50 for juniors!

In the 1973 singles final Peter Thomson prevailed after 3 hours with a score line of 6/3 14/16 6/4. Sets were advantage, no tiebreakers!

In 1975 two old wards from the Cornwall (Greenlane) Hospital were obtained and became the first clubrooms. Changing rooms, a kitchen and storage areas were arranged to be ready for opening day 1975.

Courts 5 & 6 were built around 1976/77 due to the growing membership in the club (especially juniors).

New Clubrooms & Lights & court resurfacing
After some major fundraising (including delivering telephone books) this current clubhouse was built and opened in February 2001. This was a major achievement for the club and has resulted in one of the best set up clubrooms in the Auckland area (in my biased opinion but supported by comments from other visiting clubs).

The courts were resurfaced around 2002/2003 and the lights were installed shortly after.

Tennis Auckland Club of the year award
With the new clubrooms, a booming membership & growing interclub teams, and being recognised as a very friendly club, the club received the 2007/2008 Tennis Auckland club of the year award.

Interclub - Winners Men’s 2nd grade interclub and promotion of Presidents team to Ferrier Cup
With the increasing membership & interclub teams our clubs player strength improved. This resulted in our top men’s team winning the second grade interclub competition and moving up to first grade in 2007. This was the highest singles interclub grade the club had been in. We have a couple of players here today from that team.

Around the same time our presidents team had been battling to get up to Presidents A, and then won this grade to reach the highest presidents grade, Ferrier Cup, and excellent achievement for a small club.

Repairs to clubrooms
Due to a cladding issue identified in 2017, we commenced a major project to repair the cladding issue with the clubrooms. This was a major project costing significant money, and time and effort by club members.

Love Tennis
In 2017 we participated in the national Love Tennis open day event, and had over 500 visitors to the club in a huge carnival weekend. We have done this another 2 times a bit more effectively with less people and higher new member rate.

It is a significant promotional event for the club and where we promote the club to the community and offer introductory trial subscriptions.

Covid
The Covid years were challenging to the club, with reduced membership and some hearty conversations about what the appropriate response should be. Difficult times for everyone.

On the bright side many people got out to spread their legs and found that there is a tennis club in the neighbourhood. This was good for particularly senior membership, which needed to grow.

Professional coaches
Professional coaches we have had for include;

• Alan Burns
• Margaret Pohl & Rick Healy
• David Branks
• Josh Constantine
• Current coaches Josh Mark & Simon Stanimiroff

Bereavements
Obviously over the years we have had a number of bereavements, however the recent passing of our beloved ex Midweek & junior convenor Eki Mead hit hard. A major loss of a wonderful women who put so much time and effort into the club. Her wake was a wonderful party after here at the club, Eki would have loved it.

I would like to

Invite next speakers:

• Ella Kumar
• Rohan West
• Mark Lewis

I will then open the floor to anyone who would like to come up and add their stories or share some history of the club.

• The bell – Beth to elaborate
• Sharon to speak
• Love matches – Ted & Barbara Jones et al.

Thanks

To Indrani for leading the project for this event.

• Lisa Thesing for making the cake and decorating the clubhouse
• Margaret Walker
• Maggie Rae
• Sharon Jacobsen
• Beth Graydon
• Nilesh Parshotam

Beth Graydon & Wayne Freeman will cut the cake.