Tennis SA would like to formally congratulate our newest Life Member, Rick Baldock, and our South Australian Legends Club inductee, Jim Ferguson.
Rick has played a significant role in South Australia’s tennis community through his involvement with Tennis SA and the Ken McGregor Fund.
Rick has served as a Director on the Board of Tennis SA, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of tennis in the region.
Within the Ken McGregor Fund, Rick has held leadership positions, including serving as the Chair of the Fund. In this capacity, he has overseen the distribution of grants aimed at supporting the development of South Australia’s emerging tennis players, both able-bodied and those with disabilities.
Jim’s tennis journey began in 1963 when he started playing for Dover Square in the Glenelg Districts. He achieved notable success on the court, becoming the South Australian Hardcourt Men’s Singles Champion in 1981. Additionally, he was awarded the prestigious Burr Medal in consecutive years, 1977/78 and 1978/79, recognizing him as the best and fairest male player in the state during those seasons.
Beyond his playing accomplishments, Jim has dedicated decades to the development and administration of tennis in South Australia. He has served on various committees, including the SA Pennant Committee, Winter Pennant Committee, and the Tennis SA Competition Committee. His roles have encompassed responsibilities such as junior selection and competition oversight.
See below for Rick’s acceptance speech of his Life Membership:
I want to thank the TSA Board and the TSA Council for this award. I also want to recognise the other life Members present this evening, Ron Green, Neville Messenger, Pat Semmens and Peter Smith.
I want to also thank my family for their support over many years and especially my wife Chrissy, as this support has enabled me to follow my passion for our great sport.
I want to acknowledge my late father Peter who instilled in me a love for the game from a very early age.
To Dudley Goodger my personal coach during my adolescent years.
And as I look around this room I see so many of you who I have worked with over the years. To those of you who have supported me and enabled me to learn and grow and contribute to this great game. Thank you.
Most importantly thank you to the many friends and colleagues who I have had the opportunity with whom to work.
About 15-20 years ago I overheard two young boys at Broadview Tennis Club discussing the match that one of them played that night. The young lad had lost 6-1 but what was important to him was the one shot he hit for a winner. 20-30 minutes after the match they were still talking about it. This is what hooks us on this great game. To hit a ball and see it go away for a winner.
This reminded me that our job as custodians of the game is to:
“Light a flame that burns beyond any game or match. We have an obligation that goes beyond the game. We need to empower players to succeed in life. To give them the courage to fail, the honesty to admit it and the fortitude to fix it.”
Adapted from Reed Maltbie
Echoes beyond the game: The lasting power of a coach’s words
TEDxCincinnati, July 9, 2015
See below for Jim’s acceptance speech of his South Australian Legends Club induction:
I feel privileged to have been involved in the game of tennis as a player, coach and administrator over the last 60 odd years.
From a 9-year-old who didn’t win a single game in my first 3 Saturday morning junior matches for Dover Square and not being too impressed about it, to the wonderful journey it turned out to be.
I have many fabulous memories of friends I’ve made, matches played, great teammates, tremendous rivalries, premierships and tournament finals won and lost. Much of this taking place at the Memorial Drive Tennis Club where I lived worked and played.
The first Premiership in 1976 as a 22-year-old playing for Denman in winter Pennant Division 1 with Ron Russo, Peter Smith, Dean Baker and a very young Brod Dyke.
My first State League, (Pennant Tennis) Premiership in 1982 with, Graham Chilman, Lynton Franzi, a very young Darren Cahill & Bruce Rehn.
Tennis has taken me to all the states and territories of Australia and many parts of England and America.
I got a great deal of pleasure out of seeing people getting better at and enjoying their tennis at whatever levels I was working with.
I met my wife Pauline 49 years ago come this September, a mutual friend, Sue Russo introduced us at the Millswood Tennis Centre. Not long after we were playing mixed doubles together at the BP Tournament at ETKG, from there we spent years travelling during holidays either playing ourselves and or taking teams away to tournaments.
I’ve/we’ve had the pleasure of watching our 2 sons Callum & Lachlan grow up in our world of tennis at the Drive, being amongst so many positive minded people was brilliant.
The Prospect Tennis Club has been my/our home club for the last 25 years and the next generation there are hitting plenty of Aces with their new court development opening 2 weeks ago.
There are so many people who helped me in my journey, too many to name but some of those people are here tonight at my table… and scattered around the room here …there are more that I hope to catch up with during the evening.
To you Phil Roberts and the Tennis SA Board, our CEO Debbie Sterrey, Peter Smith of the SA Players Club and Rick Baldock of the Ken McGregor Foundation and all those responsible for this event recognition and induction. Thank You!
We were also fortunate enough to receive a video message from Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tennis Australia, Jayne Hrdlicka, who was unable to attend the 2025 Tennis SA Awards Night. View the video, below:
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