23 May 2025 | Tennis Victoria

The 2025 Victorian Community Tennis Awards were held on Thursday 22 May at the iconic Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, bringing together passionate members of the Victorian tennis community to celebrate another remarkable year of achievements both on and off the court.

The cocktail style event provided the perfect setting for a night of celebration, connection, and recognition. Coaches, volunteers, officials, and club representatives from all corners of Victoria gathered to acknowledge and applaud the outstanding efforts that support grassroots and community tennis.

As guests arrived, the social spirit of tennis was on full display with friends reuniting and stories being shared, laughter filling the room. When the formal proceedings began, the energy remained high. MC Jodi Lee guided the audience through an inspiring evening of award presentations, heartfelt speeches, and powerful video features.

Coinciding with National Volunteer Week, the event offered a fitting opportunity to honour the incredible contributions of volunteers across the state. The sport simply wouldn’t thrive without the countless hours of dedication and commitment generously given by these individuals. As part of our recognition of National Volunteers Week, a video was shown to highlight the incredible impact of volunteers across the state. Click here to meet Maddy McColl and the volunteers of the Meredith Tennis Club. Their passion has revived their local club, turning it into a vibrant hub for the community.

Congratulations to all the finalists and a special shout out to the winners of this year’s awards!

Tennis Victoria CEO, Kim Kachel attended his first Community Tennis Awards in the role and was inspired by the people and stories represented on the night.

“The Victorian Community Tennis Awards are a powerful reminder of the passion and dedication that drive our sport at the grassroots level. From volunteers and coaches, to clubs, schools and inclusion initiatives, every finalist has made a meaningful impact on their local community. We’re proud to honour their achievements and celebrate the spirit of tennis right across Victoria,” Kachel said.

In the club space, Kimon Pappas from Bulleen Tennis Club won the Volunteer of the year award and Oakleigh Tennis Club won the Most Outstanding Club or Centre award. The Most Outstanding School and Most Outstanding Tournament awards were won by Yarrawonga P-12 College and Myrtleford Lawn Tennis Club 35th Easter Tournament (Senior & Junior) respectively. The Coaching Excellence – Club or Centre award was taken home by Steve Foot from Better Tennis.

The night also honoured Excellence in Officiating with Phillip Goodman being announced as the winner. In addition to this, the Supporting Tennis – Local Government Recognition award was won by Frankston City Council and the Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative was won by Sale Tennis Club for their PALM workers program.

The night culminated with the presentation of the prestigious Spirit of Tennis Award, awarded to Susie Grumley of the Traralgon Tennis Association. A lifelong tennis advocate and long-serving Manager of the Association, Grumley was honoured for her extraordinary contribution to the game in Gippsland and beyond. From leading the delivery of major events and inclusion initiatives, to driving facility upgrades and growing participation opportunities like pickleball, Grumley embodies the spirit of tennis in everything she does.

The Victorian Community Tennis Awards are aligned with the Australian Tennis Awards. Where applicable, winners of Victorian Awards are now eligible for nomination in the 2025 Newcombe Medal (Australian Tennis Awards).

Full list of the 2025 Victorian Community Tennis Awards winners below.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 WINNERS:

Most Outstanding Club or Centre

Oakleigh Tennis Club

Volunteer of the Year

Kimon Pappas – Bullen Tennis Club

Coaching Excellence – Club or Centre

Steve Foot – Better Tennis

Most Outstanding School

Yarrawonga P-12 College

Most Outstanding Tournament

Myrtleford Lawn Tennis Club 35th Easter Tournament (Senior & Junior)

Excellence in Officiating

Phillip Goodman

Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative

Sale Tennis Club

Supporting Tennis – Local Government Recognition

Frankston City Council

To access the official photos from the event please click here.

Congratulations once again to all of the finalists and winners from the night. We truly appreciate everyone’s contributions to the game, no matter how big or small, and feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a generous and dedicated community. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the evening a success. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!