25 October 2018 | Tennis Victoria

The West Lalor Tennis Club has claimed the state’s top prize at the Tennis Victoria Champions Dinner, hosted at The Pullman, Albert Park on Monday night.

In front of more than 400 guests, the Victorian Tennis Award winners were unveiled during the gala dinner, which also celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the Victorian Tennis Association (now known as Tennis Victoria).

Hosted by Ian Cover, the night saw the awarding of the 12 Victorian Tennis Awards and the celebration of the 2018 Victorian Spirit of Tennis recipients.

This year, the Victorian Spirit of Tennis was awarded – for the first time – to a family. Elizabeth, Bill, John and Sally Peers have been a dominant force in Victorian tennis for decades. The Peers family boast a number of titles at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club and Grand Slam titles in the junior and doubles events as well as Fed Cup and Davis Cup representation

But the night in some ways belonged to the humble team from the West Lalor Tennis Club. Firstly, President Andrew MacNeill who claimed the prestigious Volunteer Achievement award – sharing it with Donald Smith of the Oakleigh Tennis Club.

MacNeill and the entire team at the West Lalor Tennis Club were soon celebrating further when their club was called out as the 2018 Most Outstanding Club or Centre.

“It’s a massive honour to win this award,” MacNeill said.

“I think at the end of the day it’s not about having the best facilities or whatever, it’s about doing the best with what you have got.

“It’s the people who make the club so special,” he said.

Tennis Victoria CEO, Matthew Kennedy, was one of the first to congratulate the West Lalor Tennis Club on the honour.

“I’d like to extend my congratulations to the entire team at the West Lalor Tennis Club on this wonderful accolade,” Kennedy said.

“It’s great to see this Club recognised for the outstanding work that they have done over, not only the last 12 months, but a number of years.

“The work that goes into running a tennis club is immense and the West Lalor Tennis Club has been at the forefront of wanting to be proactive in their delivery of tennis to its community.”

The night saw guests treated to Entertainer of the Year, Brad Blaze. The speed painter demonstrated his incredible skills as he painted three murals of champions Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.

The trio have spent a combined 709 weeks as the women’s and men’s World No.1s and accumulated 45 singles grand slams.

This year’s winners of the Victorian Tennis Awards now go onto becoming nominees for the Australian Tennis Awards. The national awards will be presented at the 2018 Newcombe Medal to be hosted at the Palladium at Crown.

2018 Victorian Tennis Award winners:

Most Outstanding Club or Centre
West Lalor Tennis Club

Spirit of Tennis
The Peers Family (Elizabeth, Bill, John and Sally)

Coaching Excellence – Club or Centre
Vicky Lee – Doncaster Tennis Club

Volunteer Achievement
Andrew MacNeill – West Lalor Tennis Club
Donald Smith – Oakleigh Tennis Club 

Most Outstanding School
Clayton North Primary School

Most Outstanding Tournament
AGL Loy Yang Traralgon International, Traralgon Tennis Association

Supporting Tennis – Local Government Recognition
City of Boroondara

Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Senior
Glenn Busby

Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability
Carla Lenarduzzi

Junior Athlete of the Year – Female
Destanee Aiava

Junior Athlete of the Year – Male
Cooper White

Excellence in Officiating
Tom Sweeney

Most Outstanding Competition
Liston Tennis Club ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Match Play

 

Photos from the 2018 Tennis Victoria Champions Dinner can be viewed here.