Before the State government stepped in with a $99,700 grant late last year the future of the Blackhead Tennis Club was hanging under a cloud.
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The club's three courts were virtually unusable, while the four wooden poles which supported lighting for evening games, had become infested with termites.
"For many years the club floundered; it was a sad little club," vice-president, Keith Skipper said.
"Poor lighting and the surface meant the club was in jeopardy of closing forever."
Professional inspection determined the aging court surface had little more than 12 months life.
Late last year two of the 13-year-old synthetic surfaces were replaced, and on Friday, January 15 club committee members and Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead celebrated the re-opening of the new courts.
"Before the renovation the courts had become virtually unusable, so I'm glad the injection of almost $100,000 from the NSW Government has allowed this community asset to thrive once more," Mr Bromhead said.
Mr Bromhead said he was proud to see the courts restored to their former glory.
"Without this upgrade we would have had to close the club as the courts had become dangerously worn and incredibly slippery when wet," club president, John Mead said.
Our plan is to provide a community facility that the whole community can utilise.
- Keith Skipper
"Thanks to NSW Government funding, instead of closing the club we're celebrating reaching 40 years on our fabulous resurfaced courts.
"It is good to see the club kicking on; it is not for us it is for the community and future generations."
"Our plan is to provide a community facility that the whole community can utilise," Mr Skipper said.
"It would have been a sad little community if there were no tennis courts."
Plans are in the pipeline to redevelop the third court - which has been used by local pickleball players - as a hard multipurpose surface, and replace the four light poles, while the 72-member club also plans to launch an online booking service.
In the past two years the 42-year-old club has received closed to $106,000 in State and Federal government grants.
During its 40th anniversary year in 2019 the Federal government contributed $6000, which the club matched with the equivalent of volunteer or 'sweat equity' improvement work, reinforcing fencing and safety rails, painting and general maintenance
The club was established in 1979 following a public meeting which recognised a need to develop tennis courts in the Hallidays Point area.
Fundraising in the forms of cake stalls, raffles, games nights and donations enabled construction to begin with the former Manning Shire Council matching the committee's $2500.
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Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
