![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/files\/2022\/04\/P1040581-360x230.jpg\")
Accompanied by proud parents, coaches and friends, the ceremony was filled with appreciation for all the hard work these young tennis leaders have contributed to our great sport during such a challenging time.<\/p>\nOur resilient Future Leaders Class of 2021 took their seats at graduation at Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club for a well-deserved celebration after a year of twists and turns.<\/p>\n
Throughout snap lockdowns and restrictions, nothing could stop the incredible twenty one participants as they set out to improve themselves and their clubs.<\/p>\n
And while a 5.9 magnitude earthquake did its best during an online learning session, not even that could shake their determination.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by proud parents, coaches and friends, the ceremony was filled with appreciation for all the hard work these young tennis leaders have contributed to our great sport during such a challenging time.<\/p>\n
2021 Future Leader Silas Kingma was thankful for the opportunity to improve his skills working with the kids in his small town of Gunbower.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe town has a population of 700 people, and the club has about 70 members and it\u2019s growing. A lot of our members are made up of kids which is really good to see the younger generation coming through.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the opportunity, one of the board members at the club got emailed. They asked me if I wanted to do it because I\u2019ve been involved with the kids for a number of years now. I looked into it and thought it was very cool \u2013 the rest is history!\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas\u2019 project involved organizing a Hot Shots day and program for the local kids, and at one point had every child enrolled at the school picking up a racquet and joining him at the club.<\/p>\n
Fellow participant Mia Stefanofska also noted how the skills she learnt during her time with the Future Leaders program impacted what she chose to do for her project.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found out I\u2019m quite a visual learner\u2026 that\u2019s where the idea for the video came from. It benefits us so people can see us from a different perspective. The plan is to put it on our website, so when you open the website you get to see a bit about us!\u201d<\/p>\n