Tennis Victoria Club Development Officer Sam Condon sat down with a legend of community tennis, Lisa Niglia.<\/p>\n
Lisa is an exceptional member of the community in Greater Shepparton, and wider Victoria, and has been instrumental to the growth of tennis in that area.<\/p>\n
Hailing from Reservoir, Lisa moved to the Goulburn Valley with her husband and three children and joined Dhurringile Tennis Club. She now plays for several tennis clubs in both Regional Victoria and Metro Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Between family commitments, tennis volunteering, running her own business, working night shifts at the local hospital and occasionally helping at her husband\u2019s dairy farm, it\u2019s safe to say Lisa is no stranger to hard work!<\/p>\n
Her drive and energy are truly inspiring, and despite facing some confronting personal challenges, Lisa shows no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pretty fit, quite the fit person you can think of. I do triathlons, I do very well in my age group having come first, second or in the top ten. But to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer recently, makes you realise that cancer doesn\u2019t discriminate, no matter how fit you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do feel positive and good within myself, but it is tough. Mentally tough. If you think you\u2019re struggling on the tennis court, you\u2019re having a tough day \u2013 well when you\u2019ve been diagnosed with cancer that\u2019s the ultimate toughness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since her diagnosis, Lisa has donated her hair to charity and has plastered the walls at her gym with posters of Ash Barty.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people usually have Arnold Schwartzenegger on their walls, but at my gym, I\u2019ve got Ash Barty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I was newly diagnosed, she was my inspiration watching her at Wimbledon. And I thought if she can win Wimbledon then I can beat this illness.\u201d<\/p>\n