Tasmania, 27 August 2019 | Tennis Tasmania

Devonport Tennis Club and Geilston Bay Tennis Club will vie for the state’s Most Outstanding Club honour at the Tasmanian Tennis Awards this weekend.

Tennis Tasmania General Manager Darren Sturgess congratulates the two finalists.

“All of our clubs do a brilliant job in promoting tennis and encouraging more people to play. Participation levels are rising across the state, so the competition to be named the Most Outstanding Club is strong,” he said.

“Both Devonport Tennis Club and Geilston Bay Tennis Club should feel proud for being recognised as a finalist. They are setting the benchmarks in providing an inclusive and welcoming experience for their local communities.”

Devonport Tennis Club is thriving after extensive redevelopment over the past 10 years, upgrading 11 courts and adding lighting. The club, which has 134 members, is currently undertaking significant clubhouse works and has recently gone live with Book a Court technology to make court hire more accessible to the wider community.

Geilston Bay Tennis Club runs a popular junior program, called Ace Juniors, which attracts an average of 47 members each term and has a strong connection to local schools. The club is also proactive in providing social and competitive opportunities for its adult members and the wider community. This has helped club membership rise to 129.

The winning club receives a customised in-house training session covering topics such as finance, marketing, customer service and grant writing, as well as a hospitality experience at an Australian Summer of Tennis event. Tennis Tasmania will also arrange a professional player or coach from their local major event to visit the club this summer.

The winner of the Most Outstanding Club award will be announced at a presentation evening at Country Club Launceston on Saturday 31 August. It is one of 11 Tasmanian Tennis Awards on offer during a weekend-long celebration, which also includes the Tennis Tasmania annual general meeting, club workshops and social play opportunities.

Australian tennis legend Neale Fraser is the special guest and will share stories from his career during the evening.

“It promises to be an exciting weekend,” says Sturgess.

“This is our chance to unite the Tasmanian tennis community and celebrate all the achievements of clubs, coaches, individuals, schools, officials and volunteers over the past year. Recognising hard-work and dedication is important to help our sport continue to grow.”

Tickets are still available for the awards presentation evening, with $70 adult tickets including dinner and drink upon arrival. Book online or call (03) 6108 8205 to secure a place.