16 May 2023 | Tennis West

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week. A week which highlights the importance of volunteers and how vital they are in creating change within the community.  

Over the course of the week, we will highlight some of the key local people in our tennis community who volunteer their time at their club, community, or workplace. 

Our first volunteer is Sonia Addis from Tenterden Tennis Club who is the club Secretary. Sonia received the Volunteer Achievement Award at last years Tennis West Awards Gala Night. 

Sonia understands the power tennis can have in bringing regional communities together and gives her all to provide the opportunity to as many community members as possible by creating a fantastic community hub. Sonia has been pivotal in setting up Ladies’ Days, junior tournaments, club merchandise and funding applications for Tenterden Tennis Club. 

It’s the support and friendship of the committee, the appreciation of the members and team Sonia works with that makes volunteering rewarding and fun. 

“The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is seeing the club come alive on a Saturday or tournament day with loads of kids and families. I’ve also made new friends and learnt so much through reaching out to Tennis West, launching new merchandise, writing grants, and utilising new technology and platforms.” 

“I like to think that myself and our committee welcome and encourage everyone to visit and enjoy our club. We have introduced new events like Ladies Day which caters to players of all levels and breaks down barriers for women, The Festival of Tennis which includes our junior players, I love seeing parents on court with their kids— it’s special.” 

“For me, in my role as a volunteer at our club, the connection, belonging and creating a community is of paramount importance,” said Sonia. 

Tennis in Western Australia would not exist without dedicated volunteers, who selflessly give their time to clubs across WA week in, week out. 

If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to your local club. They would love to hear from you!