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NEWS - NEWS FROM THE WEST 2008 - PART I
| Western Australia - Published on July 31‚ 2008 |
 FROM LISA CRADDOCK
Although we shiver each morning and wake to chilly 3 degree mornings, we have been lucky enough that the sun has been shining and there are still many dry days to play tennis! Fortunately, there have not been too many days when the kids have been unable to get out on the courts and have a hit!
TERRIFIC TIM!
Tim Inglis has been helping Kids Tennis Foundation during his time in year 10 at Scotch College. He has involved his time with us as a part of his year long International Baccalaureate Personal Project. Since last year Tim has been busy with various activities to do with tennis. Tim initiated a junior “Play and Pay” and a raffle at his local Claremont Tennis Club during term one with the funds raised being donated to Kids Tennis Foundation.
This is quite a task to undertake for anyone as it requires a lot of organisation – permission from the Club, arranging and controlling activities for excited 7-14 year olds, organising prizes and finances, etc – all quite daunting for a 15 year old to undertake. But Tim managed with ease and the afternoon was a great success! Thanks to his enthusiasm and management a total of over $200 was raised.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Claremont Tennis Club and their Club coach Peter Schoolkate for allowing the afternoon to eventuate, Hyundai Hopman Cup for providing Cup tickets for the raffle and of course to Tim and his parents for their fantastic effort and support.
WIRRPANDA FOUNDATION
As part of Tim’s Personal Project I accompanied him to a general meeting of the David Wirrpanda Foundation. The Foundation was founded to assist and develop young indigenous people through strong role models and healthy life choices – very similar to our Kids Tennis Foundation objectives. Although very much dedicated to bringing football to these children, the Wirrpanda Foundation is hoping to broaden the sports offered to its primary school age children. This is where Kids Tennis Foundation slots in perfectly. During term four Lisa Cunningham, General Manager Wirrpanda Foundation, and I are hoping to work in conjunction to provide more tennis to the Nyoongar community.
CAROLYN SLIPS IN A WINNER
Hopefully all WA people noticed our KTF booth at the last Hyundai Hopman Cup. Carolyn McCarthy certainly did and she also managed to complete her KTF subscription whilst there and to slip it into the box to become our winner! She is now the proud owner of the framed Hyundai Hopman Cup poster autographed by all the players. Congratulations Carolyn! Carolyn has subscribed to KTF every year since the Cup began! You too could be in the running for a win if you complete your subscription and place it in the box during the week of play. Look out for us at next year’s Hyundai Hopman Cup from 3rd -9th of January 2008.
KTF COACH COLIN THOMPSON REPORTING FROM GERALDTON…..
Term two in Geraldton saw a record number of schools participating in the Kids Tennis Foundation Program, and with good coaches and weather, interest in tennis has increased tremendously. Now many of the children are keen to play more tennis in and outside of school and are also bringing their families and friends down to the local tennis clubs. Some are even signing up as members. A number of the schools have some very promising tennis players who are being encouraged to join the coaching program with other talented players after school. Overall the KTF Program has sparked a fantastic increase in tennis and being winter it is extremely encouraging. I look forward to the summer months where Kids Tennis Foundation can further improve participation rates.
FROM WILUNA REMOTE COMMUNITY SCHOOL.....
Report from Paul Penman:
“I have been in Wiluna teaching at the Wiluna Remote Community School which is in a remote West Australian, predominately Aboriginal, community. I first came here to the goldfields in September last year to check the place out and then returned in mid-November and worked for a month as a Teachers' Aide in this school with about 100 pupils. It is a very tough place to live and work with temperatures hovering between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius for most of summer. The flies are as much of a problem as the heat and for most of the time outdoors I have to wear a black net to cover my head and face, not unlike the bee keepers wear.
After much deliberation I came back in March wearing three different hats. I am now employed not only as a Teachers' Aide, but also as a Tutor for a number of secondary aged children and as the tennis coach. There is no tennis club and no organised tennis here whatsoever. It is just too hot to play during the day in summer. But there are two painted cement courts adjacent to the school, so I lugged a hundred tennis balls, fourteen tennis racquets and a tennis net, plus my own personal belongings here by plane, train and car (and by foot!), to see if there was any interest in tennis whatsoever. The only other tennis coaching had been conducted by a group from out of town who conducted a short school holiday programme last year.
The tennis equipment was donated by Kids Tennis Foundation. Susie Norton, the driving force behind this tennis charity, had even personally brought all of this gear to my door in Melbourne before I left. She and Kids Tennis Foundation have a passion to help the marginalized, which was so much in evidence by this selfless action in response to my request for assistance.
With this background in mind I can now report the overwhelming interest in playing tennis by more than sixty children, aged from Grade 3/4 to Grade 7/8/9.
The fellow in the photo below with the baseball cap is very well-known international basketballer, Ricky Grace, who now plays for a Perth team. He travels around Western Australia's remote areas promoting the importance of sport, especially basketball. The tall good looking young bloke (other than yours truly), is Milo Pearse, the school’s Health and Physical Education Teacher.
There is a long way to go. The tennis facilities are reminiscent of the 1960's, however we are fortunate to also have the support of the Shire of Wiluna, Tennis Australia and Margaret Court, through her Victory Life Centre in Perth, is also supporting us behind the scenes.
I have fully recovered from my near-fatal car accident the day before I was due to originally drive here, across the Nullarbor, in late October. All that remains is a long, deep scar on my left arm.
Until next time, remember to keep your head down and keep your eye on the ball.”
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