Celebrated in 2021 with the theme of \u201cRecognise, Reconnect and Reimagine\u201d, National Volunteers Week is an opportunity to thank the millions of generous Australians who donate countless hours to support others in the community.<\/p>\n
Volunteering Australia estimates that close to six million volunteers collectively dedicate over 600 million hours annually \u2013 and among that group are some especially committed individuals who ensure tennis is thriving throughout the nation.<\/p>\n
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley is delighted the game is so well passionately supported. \u201cAcross Australia, there\u2019s more than 25,000 volunteers that day in and day out contribute to the growth of our sport and for that we have a great deal of appreciation,\u201d Tiley commented as National Volunteers Week began on Monday.<\/p>\n
The value of volunteers was particularly pronounced after one of the most challenging periods for the sport. With tennis dramatically impacted by bushfires, floods and the worldwide pandemic since early 2020, the many people who donate their time to the sport were critical to its recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe contribution that you\u2019ve each made to get the sport back up and running has not gone unnoticed, so thank you,\u201d Tiley added. \u201cAnd most importantly, it\u2019s the work and the passion and the dedication and the commitment of all our volunteers that do make tennis one of the most popular sports in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a passion that Wendy Hudson, from Kendall on New South Wales\u2019 mid north coast, well understands.<\/p>\n
A stalwart of her local community since she followed her parents into the game some 40 years ago, Hudson is a long-time president of the Kendall Tennis Club, a coach, manager of a regional ballkids squad and actively involved with Tennis New South Wales\u2019 \u201cSheroes\u201d program.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I work part-time and have a family,\u201d laughed Hudson, a police officer and a mother of three young adult boys.<\/p>\n
Helped by Hudson\u2019s tireless commitment, Kendall was named the nation\u2019s Most Outstanding Club at the inaugural Australian Tennis Awards in 2010 and a winner of the AO Blitz competition in 2016.<\/p>\n
The latter accolade recognised Kendall as Australia\u2019s most tennis-loving town \u2013 that passion arguably driven by the president herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my town, which is where I grew up,\u201d Hudson related of her commitment to volunteering, which was instrumental to the construction of a sparkling new tennis facility in the coastal community.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents ran the club before me, and so the last 10 years I\u2019ve focused on trying to build this town a new (tennis) centre. Only because we grew out of our three-court centre years ago and we needed some more courts. So that\u2019s sort of been my drive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The theme of \u201cRecognise, Reconnect and Reimagine\u201d is of huge significance to Hudson. While she often contributes up to 30 hours of her own time each week to volunteering, she proudly recognises that the growth of the club is a collective success.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the team behind me, it\u2019s not just about me,\u201d Hudson stresses. \u201cIt\u2019s the team that\u2019s been right behind me and supported me the whole way through. Our club is run entirely by volunteers. It takes about 80 hours a week to run this club.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we are a community tennis club, so fees are fairly low for that reason and that\u2019s probably why we\u2019ve got 480 members for a town of just 1200.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting the importance of both connecting and reconnecting, Hudson explains how the influence of the club extends far beyond just tennis.<\/p>\n
When the Kendall township was inundated by floods after massive rains in April, Kendall Tennis Club \u2013 thankfully spared from that natural disaster \u2013 not only provided emotional support to many community members, but also helped at a practical level. The popular Miss Nelly\u2019s Caf\u00e9 even moved baking operations to the club\u2019s industrial grade kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a very tight community, so it was hard,\u201d said Hudson, \u201cAnd Miss Nellie\u2019s is obviously another business in town that lost everything. And when we did throw our hands out to Miss Nellie\u2019s, who was a sponsor of our club, to come and use our kitchen, she was able to maintain part of her business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe helped her get back on her feet and that\u2019s what a community does. A community like ours, we all pull together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reimagining the role of the club in that instance, Hudson notes how volunteering itself can also require a different outlook. While the busy president happily followed her parents\u2019 example in giving countless hours to the club \u2013 her father still helps with maintenance, her mother runs the canteen and both are still active on the club committee \u2013 she also notes that delegation is increasingly critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just sort of in my blood, I suppose,\u201d explains Hudson. \u201cAs we built and moved into this new centre, I changed my focus of me doing everything. I got other people involved and I think that\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n
And as with many clubs throughout the nation, those people are giving their time happily. Whether its maintaining facilities, organising competitions, conducting social activities, fund-raising or one of the myriad big and small jobs required at a club, generous volunteers are not only contributing to the ongoing success of tennis but ensuring the sport\u2019s bright future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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