Norma Stead\u2019s love for tennis at a young age ignited a lifetime of passion which has led her to receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to tennis.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Stead has been involved with the Kiama Tennis Club and Kiama and Shellharbour District Tennis Association for decades as a life member of both the club and the association, and the Kiama tennis precinct is named in her honor \u2013 the Stead Reserve.<\/p>\n
The former player turned volunteer was humbled by the honour.<\/p>\n
“My reaction was just ‘oh’, I didn’t carry on. I just went quiet,” she told the Illawarra Mercury.<\/p>\n
“My mum and dad both played tennis. My dad used to play with (Australian tennis champion) Harry Hopman. I’ve got a trophy of theirs that they won together, which I was very proud of.<\/p>\n
“I won our school championships when I was about 12 at the public school in Berry. Then the war came along and put a bit of a stopper to tennis and all kinds of things, but I managed to play a bit of social tennis around the place. I’ve always been interested in tennis,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Tennis NSW Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence Robertson said \u201cNorma\u2019s devotion to our sport is inspiring on so many levels, with an extensive list of on court and off court achievements over the years including Tennis NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2011. Individuals like Norma play a vital role in our sport and I am delighted to congratulate Norma on this very well deserved achievement\u201d.<\/p>\n
Norma Stead\u2019s tennis achievements on court \u2013 Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association Championships<\/strong><\/p>\n 1953\u2014B Grade Ladies Singles Champion<\/p>\n 1954\u2014AR Ladies Singles Champion<\/p>\n 1960\u2014AR Ladies Doubles Champion with Beattie Long<\/p>\n 1963\u2014AR Mixed Doubles Champion with Kevin Barr<\/p>\n 196 4\u2014AR Ladies singles and AR ladies doubles champion-doubles with Noelene Hurditch<\/p>\n 1965\u2014AR ladies Doubles with Noelene Hurditch defeating Bernice Evans and Bev Taunton<\/p>\n 1967\u2014AR Ladies Doubles with Bernice Evans<\/p>\n 1969\u2014AR Ladies Doubles with Bernice Evans<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Off court Awards & Achievements\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1968 \u2013 Life Membership Kiama Tennis Club<\/p>\n 1969 \u2013 Life Membership Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association<\/p>\n 1982 \u2013 Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association \u201cMember of the Year\u201d<\/p>\n 2000 – Australian Sports Medal<\/p>\n 2001 – The Stead family’s contribution to Kiama tennis was publicly recognised at a naming ceremony at the Noorinan Street tennis centre, being named Stead Reserve.<\/p>\n 2009 – NSW Sports Federation Distinguished Long Service Award<\/p>\n 2011 – Tennis NSW Volunteer of the year<\/p>\n 2020 \u2013 Kiama & Shellharbour District Tennis Association named their \u201cAssociation member of the year award\u201d the \u201cNorma Stead Trophy\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the full story here:<\/p>\n