On April 13–14, Tennis Development Officer Ben Cunningham represented Tennis NT in a collaborative effort with the Gove Peninsula Tennis Club, Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation, and Homelands Community Youth Workers. Five different communities gathered in Gangan to deliver Racquets and Red Dust. Gangan is nestled in the East Arnhem Region, a four-hour drive or a 45-minute charter flight southwest of Nhulunbuy (Gove).
Training the Trainers
Racquets and Red Dust focuses on a ‘Train the Trainer’ model – equipping youth workers and community leaders with the tools and confidence to deliver tennis locally. Eleven youth workers from five homelands communities participated, including:
- Garrthalala: Lorraine Guruwiwi, Aaron Burrawanga, and Shayla Mununggurr
- Dhalinbuy: Dominic Yunupingu and Brianna Wunungmurra
- Baniyala: Davis/Wadun Wirrpanda and Rena Guyula
- Wandawuy: SallyAnn Barabara and Mudiny Cameron Mununggur
- Gangan: Djamika Ganambarr and Rena Wanambi
Participants learned from Gove Peninsula Tennis Club Coach Nicky Mayer, who brings over 15 years of experience working within East Arnhem’s homelands. In a full-circle moment, Nicky even shared photos from her archives showing she had coached several of these same youth workers when they were young children.
All logistics for the stay were managed by the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation. Special thanks go to Charlotte Grover-Johnson for her incredible work in coordinating the training and bringing the groups together.
Schools and Youth Program Visits
Following the Gangan visit, Nicky and Ben continued their week in the Gove area, delivering tennis sessions to approximately 200 students across three local schools:
- Nhulunbuy Christian College: 70 students (various year groups)
- Nhulunbuy Primary School: 80 students (Years 1–2)
- Nhulunbuy High School: 50 students (Years 7–9)
Led by Nicky Mayer, these sessions focused on fun and foundational rallying. The impact was immediate, with several families already inquiring about joining the club’s regular tennis programs.
The team also visited the Gunyangara and Yirrkala after-school programs. While the primary goal was upskilling adults, the joy on the children’s faces was unmistakable. In Yirrkala, they were joined by Manimba Dhamarrandji and three teammates from the victorious East Arnhem red ball team that won at last year’s National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC). Seeing these young leaders thriving with such confidence was a highlight of the trip.
A Bright Future for East Arnhem Tennis
Tennis NT extends a heartfelt thank you to Nicky Mayer, Charlotte Grover-Johnson, the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation, and the 11 dedicated youth workers. This program builds on the success of last year’s course in Dhalinybuy and continues to yield incredible results.
The long-term impact is already clear:
- Championship Success: The East Arnhem team won the Hot Shots division at the 2025 NITC.
- National Recognition: Gangan’s own Manimba Dhamarrandji earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as a ballkid at the Australian Open 2026.
Since the course concluded, communities have already shared photos of themselves delivering tennis to their Djamarrkuli (kids). These youth workers are exceptional role models, and we look forward to seeing the East Arnhem team compete again at this year’s NITC, held this August at the Darwin International Tennis Centre in Marrara.
[Find out more about the NITC]
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