Tathra Beach Tennis Club

50th Tournament weekend highlights

Tathra  Beach Country Club AMT Tennis Tournament, celebrates 50 years

 On the October long weekend Tathra Tennis club saw over 100 entrants, and many other family and friends came to the courts to watch and participate in a very special tournament.

The first Tournament was held in 1964 at Tathra Tennis Club (Now known as Tathra Beach Country Club – Tennis Club) they were given credit for organising their first Open Tennis Tournament over the Labour Day long weekend, which proved to be a great success.  Cobargo Tennis Club used to run this tournament, when they stopped, Tathra took up the challenge.  Chief organisers were Vernon McNeil (who had been running the Bega Easter Tournament for 5 years), Aub Smith, Maureen Smith, and Monica Davidson. These people were the major organisers for over 20 years, and in Maureen Smith’s case for many years after that.

The first Tournament was played on the three courts near the Tathra Beach Bowling Club, Tathra Primary School, Staffords Hardware at Kalaru, Vic Clegg’s at Mogareeka and many private courts in Tathra.  The format of our early Tournaments involved the Singles and Doubles being played in the one day. Sometimes, due to rain, the matches were not finished, so players went to the Bowling Club and tossed a coin for the result.

1964 – Cooma Player, Mrs Boate won all her events – the Ladies Open Singles, Ladies Open Doubles with Mrs W Fraser (Cooma) and Mixed Open Doubles with Vic Fraser from Cooma.  Mrs Boate defeated Denise Griffin (Glover), from Tathra  in the Ladies Open Singles.  Tathra pair, Vern McNeil and Laurie Glover won the Mens Open Doubles from local Robert Rheinberger and Vic Fraser from Cooma.  The Mens Open Singles was not decided, and as finalists were locals (Eddie Rheinberger and son Robert) the so Committee elected to finalise events involving visiting players.

Rain was an ever present worry – a storm on the Monday afternoon of the first Tournament delayed play, but the great condition of the courts made it possible to continue after and hour’s delay.

Local players Pat Ubrihien, Col and Edna Veness, Max and June Sawers, George and Enid Love were joined by players from Canberra, Cooma, Batemans Bay and Kiama and many other local players. Vic and Daphne Fraser, Cooma, played in our first Tournament and for many years afterwards with his family. Their grandchildren now play in our Tournament.

 This year, Myrtle Boate, from Cooma, who still plays tennis twice a week, entered again, (at 95 years young!) She played with her great grandson, Jack Ewart, in the mixed C Doubles, where they won the first round 10-1, but went down in the second round to the eventual runners up (10-2). Myrtles family all came to Tathra, from far and wide, to play again, and to celebrate our 50 years of Tournament tennis and to watch these special games

… I wonder how many boys have played competition tennis with their Great Grandma?

Denise Glover and John Rheinburger also played, having also played in the first tournament 50 years ago. They played in the Mixed special doubles, they also won the first round but went down in the second.

There were many of the “original players” present to watch and help celebrate at the Tathra Country Club on Saturday night, where there was a BBQ (thanks to Tathra Lions Club), music by Donny Ryan and an anniversary cake was cut.