Elaine Tennis Club

New Courts for Elaine!

13 March 2015 |

   “The Miner” – Wednesday, 19 June 2013

More people in Elaine and surrounding towns will be getting more active, more often following Sunday’s official opening of the new multipurpose courts at the Elaine Recreation Reserve by Member for Western Victoria, Simon Ramsay.
Representing the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty, Mr Ramsay joined Moorabool Shire Councillor Tom Sullivan and members of the reserve’s popular Elaine Tennis Club at local celebrations to launch the new tennis courts.
“Local sport plays an important role in bringing people together, especially in regional Victoria, which is why we’re working hard to build for future growth by delivering great venues where residents can play the sports they love,” Mr Ramsay said. “The new courts provide the Elaine Tennis Club with a superior surface that’s even safer to play on and can handle the growing numbers keen to do Elaine proud in local competitions. These new court facilities open up opportunities for local clubs to host more development programs, training and district sport at the one venue,” Mr Ramsay said. “Having quality sporting facilities is central to encouraging more Victorians to get more active, more often, which is a top priority for this Government. That’s why we’re proud to have provided $50,000 towards the construction of the new tennis courts from our Community Facility Funding Program. Our investment ensures local venues like the Elaine Recreation Reserve will continue to be an important community asset for many years to come,” he said.
Mr Ramsay thanked Moorabool Shire Council for securing the funding and providing over $80,000 towards the project. “This has been a team effort and it’s fantastic to see this important project come to fruition,” Mr Ramsay said.
“The project was a result of listening to local people and working collaboratively with each of our project partners,” he said. The resurrection of the Elaine Tennis Club began in 2010 when the town received a small grant from the shire and the federal government. These funds were used to build a barbeque area at the reserve. Residents were spurred on and a meeting was held to gauge interest in reviving the tennis club.
Lifelong resident and one of Elaine’s biggest advocates, Shane Dunne, said the town rallied not just behind the tennis club but pushed for whatever it took to bring back the spirit into the small community of 300 plus residents, and no-one was more prouder than he at Sunday’s official opening. It was up to the president of the Recreation Reserve, Ron Read, to thank everyone who had helped over the years.  “I am sure the children will get years and years out of it,” he said.
Russell Ford, president of the Elaine Tennis Club thanked the sponsors and the recreation reserve committee for keeping the grounds in perfect condition. “This is a terrific way to keep people in the community,” he said.