Contributed by Jack Wilcox Patron Maleny Tennis Club
AFTER several false starts, the Maleny Tennis Club was launched on Friday, 23 April 1926 by Cr J Grigor, President of the Landsborough Shire Council.
The president of the new club was Mr Pat Daly, the “minister for everything” around Maleny at that time, who announced that the courts had cost 250 pounds to build. The annual fee for gents was half a guinea and for ladies 5/-.
In his speech, Mr Grigor reflected that the patch of scrub he remembered had since made significant progress. Entertainment at the opening was provided by the Balmoral Jazz Band.
Mr A Hunt was appointed patron. He served for 20 years, a feature of executive positions where 20 and 30-year terms were common.
There have only been four or five patrons in 100 years.
They all died with their boots on. I mention this rather insignificantly in passing, as I am the current patron (11 years).
In a century, there have been many fine champions. In the thirties, Win and Herb Grundon must have had two trophy cabinets, his and hers. Between them, they won the singles title seven times.
The most prolific winner on the men’s side was Col Leeding, with seven consecutive wins in the seventies. On the women’s side, the most consecutive wins were by Desley Steele, with six wins in the sixties.
But the gold cup goes to Kaye Hankinson. She burst onto the scene in the early seventies with three consecutive wins. I can imagine her in the eighties thinking, “I can beat these whipper snappers”. She won the title again in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1987.
Maleny is only one of the clubs formed in the 1920s. Tennis blossomed in that decade.
In Maleny, the impact was remarkable. I would go as far as to say tennis shaped Maleny’s culture. Perched on a mountain ridge and difficult to access, the Maleny community, with its cluster of farms, enjoyed a special closeness.
The sons and daughters of these farmers married. Every farm had a tennis court. Social tennis flourished.
But the march of time took its toll. The kids grew up and we grew old. The new generation discovered cars and the coast.
New sports invaded tennis territory. In the dreams of youth, a new landscape beckoned.
For ‘tennis tragics’, this was the golden age of tennis garnering treasured memories for those who lived through it.
The club will be celebrating the occasion on Sunday May 3 starting at 2:30pm with tennis in heritage attire.
The unveiling of the plaque ceremony will commence at 5:00 with the BBQ to follow soon after. It’s a family day targeting present and past players.
We’d love to have you along to celebrate with us.
Email the club at malenytennisclub@gmail.com to register your attendance or text your response to 0419 020 868 .