The entire tennis family is uniting with a single purpose: rebuild the affected communities.

That is the consistent theme behind every aspect of the tennis effort to help the bushfire-affected towns and people.

Tennis is working on a meaningful and sustained contribution to these communities by rebuilding, maintaining and helping run, fund and promote tennis communities in the affected areas. This means being with them throughout the entire rebuilding process and beyond. A long term partnership.

Rather than one lump sum from this will involve ongoing financial assistance in cash and kind to rebuild clubhouses and courts, stock them with equipment, promote them, help them with coaching, clinics, organisation and equally importantly, morale.

Who is involved?

Mums, dads, boys, girls, players, non-players, staff, families, coaches, administrators, associations, federations, sponsors, manufacturers, agents…all are offering cash, goods, services and time toward bushfire relief.

The target is tangible but not financial. Rebuild the clubs and re-establish the tennis communities. That is the commitment. We will keep raising funds until that is done. Until we can give them back tennis as an important part of returning their lives to normality.

The end effort will run into hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars, but we basically continue until these communities are back on their feet and then continue some more.

What has happened so far?

Donations
A Tennis Bushfire Relief Appeal has been established and the call for action has gone out nationally through Tennis Australia, Tennis Victoria, clubs, coaching associations, stakeholders and all members of the tennis family, for donations of cash, goods and services.

For example players on the tour are signing and donating equipment, clothing, cash etc: local clubs and staff are donating money and time, dozens of local coaches have registered their interest in donating time and expertise when required, past players are offering to participate in special tennis days to be run in the affected areas at the appropriate time. Collections are continuing for sporting paraphenalia for a monster tennis auction.

It is imperative that all this information is collated on central registers to ensure tennis can provide the necessary resources where and when they are needed into the months and years ahead.

Cash Donations can be made through the Neale Fraser Foundation via the Our Community website (not tax deductible). Donations can be made by credit card, cheque or money order by phone, fax or mail. Credit card donations can also be made directly online. All money donated will go directly to Tennis Bushfire Relief.

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation should contact Kylie Webster on 8420 8420 or email bushfirerelief@tennis.com.au for further information.

Goods and Services Donations are being recorded on a central register at Tennis Victoria. Please email any goods and services donation information through to Tamatha Harding at tharding@tennis.com.au or contact 8420 8420.

Coaching Services Donations are also being recorded on a central register at Tennis Victoria. Please email any coaching services donation information through to Matt Gregory at mgregory@tennis.com.au or contact 8420 8420.

Facilities
The first stage here is to define the need. An assessment is being made and will continue to be made of the damage done. A central asset register is being developed and assessments being made of the equipment and operational shortfalls. Once that need is defined, we can then develop a plan of works and fund it. The funding will come from Tennis Australia, Tennis Victoria, donations, insurance, Kooyong Foundation and State Government grants. But the entire process will  be streamlined and co-ordinated.

Morale
The medium to long term plan is to help the morale of these communities through our sport. We all know the integral part tennis and the tennis club plays in local communities. We want to enhance this with fun days, competitions, free coaching clinics, Hot Shots days etc etc. The advice is that obviously it is way too early for some of this stuff as the fires are still burning, but that these people will need us in the ensuing months. We are gearing up for those months.

What's next?

We will continue to raise funds and collate the offers of help and all the ideas that keep coming in.

A steering committee has been formed to guide the tennis response and is staffed by Tennis Victoria, Tennis Australia and club representatives. Updates on the progress being made will be provided as regularly as possible.

A central needs register has been created to ascertain losses in the categories of infrastructure, equipment and operational shortfall, personnel support.

We are in this for the long haul.

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation should contact Kylie Webster on 8420 8420 or email bushfirerelief@tennis.com.au for further information.