Melbourne, 2 March 2012 | Tennis Australia

Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley launched the Learn Earn Legend! Tennis Come and Try Days for young Indigenous Australians at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service today in Melbourne.

“This new Indigenous tennis program for children aged between five to 15 years, is run by the Evonne Goolagong Foundation in conjunction with Tennis Australia, and is supported by the Australian Government’s Learn Earn Legend! initiative,” Goolagong said.

“The aim of Learn Earn Legend! Tennis Come and Try Days is to increase the number of Aboriginal boys and girls playing tennis to help improve their health, education and employment opportunities.

“I’m thrilled to swing the Learn Earn Legend! Tennis Come and Try Days into action at Albert Reserve Tennis Centre in Melbourne this Sunday 4 March,” Goolagong added.

The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, a meeting place for the Melbourne Indigenous community, provided Evonne and her brother Ian Goolagong, Tennis Australia’s National Indigenous Coach, with the ideal location to chat with Aboriginal elders about the Learn Earn Legend! Tennis Come and Try Days to encourage them to support the program and get their youth involved.

Young Indigeous children also had the opportunity to pick up a racquet today and have a hit of MLC Tennis Hot Shots with Evonne and Ian.

MLC Tennis Hot Shots is Tennis Australia’s kids’ starter program and one of the fun activities on offer this Sunday at Albert Reserve Tennis Centre. Other activities include a talk by Evonne and coaching by Indigenous coaches, including Ian.

Young Indigenous Australians can register to attend by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0434 604 103

Victorian country towns of Shepparton and Sale will also host the Learn Earn Legend! Tennis Come and Try Days on 18 and 25 March respectively.

For further information on Tennis Australia’s Indigenous programs, please visit www.tennis.com.au/players/diversity