The second in a series of Tennis Come and Try Days for young Indigenous Australians was held in Shepparton yesterday, with Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley hosting approximately 30 juniors at McEwen Reserve Tennis Club.<\/p>\n
Part of the Learn Earn Legend! Initiative, the day gave Goolagong Cawley the chance to help her fulfil her second dream in life, having already fulfilled her first dream of playing at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy second dream is to get as many Indigenous kids playing tennis as possible,\u201d said Goolagong Cawley, who is the tennis ambassador for the initiative.<\/p>\n
Of the children in attendance, many had never picked up a tennis racquet before, so it was a great opportunity to have some fun with their friends and learn something new.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re using tennis as a vehicle to introduce better education and health amongst the aboriginal kids in Australia,\u201d said Goolagong Cawley.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey couldn\u2019t wait to get on the court so that\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
The day featured a range of on-court activities including games, basic coaching drills to, amongst other things, teach players the difference between a forehand and backhand, MLC Tennis Hot Shots and Cardio Tennis.<\/p>\n
For 13 year-old Stephanie Walker the day gave her the chance to learn how to play tennis and helped to change her perception about the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was boring, but it\u2019s actually fun,\u201d said Walker.<\/p>\n
Shepparton was chosen to host a Tennis Come and Try Day because it has a large Indigenous population.<\/p>\n
\u201cShepparton is a wonderful very sporting area. We thought Shepparton would be the perfect place [to hold a Come and Try Day],\u201d said Goolagong Cawley.<\/p>\n
The Learn Earn Legend! initiative aims to encourage and support young Indigenous Australians to stay at school, get that job and be a legend for themselves, their family and their community.<\/p>\n
One such \u2018legend\u2019 is Kyah Stewart, who has been part of the Evonne Goolagong Foundation since it started eight years ago and says the mentoring Evonne has provided has been invaluable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d probably still be in Foster [if it wasn\u2019t for the foundation] and I\u2019m not sure what I\u2019d be doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’ve given me plenty of opportunities and they’ve supported me along the way. I\u2019m glad that these young indigenous kids are getting the opportunities that I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cheryl Murray brought along four of her grandchildren ranging in age from 2 \u00bd -11 to the day and said they all had a terrific time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe older girls have always wanted to try tennis. I reckon we\u2019ll have to be looking into putting them in somewhere. They’ve really taken to it.<\/p>\n
Murray said it was also great to meet one of her idols.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in awe of her. I used to watch her when I was younger. She\u2019s just so down to earth. It\u2019s just amazing. You don\u2019t often get to meet your idol.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next Tennis Come and Try day will be held on Sunday 25 March at Sale Tennis Club from 10.30 am.<\/p>\n