The Tennis West Participation team last week made the journey north to Kununurra for a jam-packed week of tennis development, community collaboration, and cultural exchange as part of the State Indigenous Tennis Carnival (SITC) and local school and club activations.
The visit kicked off on Monday, with a club meeting and a valuable upskilling session for volunteers and community members at the Kununurra Tennis Club. With seven participants in attendance, the session aimed to build local capacity and confidence in delivering tennis programs in the region.
Tuesday saw the team deliver a full day of tennis to students at East Kimberley College, with over 100 students from Years 1 to 5 taking part in dynamic and engaging sessions. The students showed great enthusiasm and energy, with many picking up a racquet for the first time.
The day continued with a series of tennis coaching sessions in the evening at Kununurra Tennis Club. Junior players participated in Red, Orange, Green, and Yellow Ball sessions, with a total of 30 young players enjoying the courts. The evening wrapped up with a high-energy Cardio Tennis session for adults, attracting 17 local players who brought the fun and fitness to life under the lights.
Wednesday was a special day that brought the community together through tennis and culture. The Red Ball School Competition welcomed over 50 students from three schools — East Kimberley College (EKC), St Joseph’s Wyndham, and Ngalangalangpum School. EKC Team #3 came away with the win, but every student left with a smile and new tennis experiences.
Later that evening, the courts lit up once again for the State Indigenous Tennis Carnival. The night opened with a Welcome to Country from Brenda of the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre, followed by a range of tennis games and cultural activities.
Participants enjoyed on-court engagement with Fair Game, Garnduwa, and PCYC, a boab nut painting activity, a BBQ hosted by the Youth Policing Team, and live music by Levi McGrath that rounded out the night with a sense of celebration and community.
The trip would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of several key organisations, including:
- Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
- Kununurra Tennis Club Committee
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre
- Garnduwa
- PCYC
- Fair Game
- Sport4All
Reflecting on the experience, Tennis West’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead, Sara Mohamed felt so lucky to have visited Kununurra to support upskilling for volunteers at Kununurra Tennis Club, as well as delivering school and community sessions.
“The feel within the town and surrounding remote schools who participated in the Tennis West events was warm and one of unity.”
“Over time, we hope to support and strengthen these connections we have with community organisations, as well as the connections they have with each other to make tennis a more accessible and sustainable sport for all,” said Sara.
And for those who find themselves in town — don’t miss out on the local recommendation from the team: Kimberley Cafe Vietnamese coffee is the best in town.
Tennis West extends its thanks and appreciation to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for the ongoing support through the Gaming Communities Trust Grant.
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