|
 |
NEWS - NEWS FROM VICTORIA 2008 - PART I
| Victoria - Published on July 31‚ 2008 |
 COACHES CORNER
WELCOME…….
Norm Cahill
Norm joined the KTF coaching team at the beginning of this year and is taking the Program to the enthusiastic kids at St Mary’s School in Rushworth.
Norm was first taught the game by the legendary Harry Hopman and Bryan Slattery and throughout his playing career competed against such great players such as Ken Rosewall, Neale Fraser and Frank Sedgman. After his brief international tennis career, Norm began a career in coaching which has spanned close to 50 years. Norm also coaches at Mooroopna Lawn Tennis Club, Murchison and at Puckapunyal Army Base. Norm was head coach of the Victorian Country Tennis Association for 15 years and coached tennis at Wesley College in Melbourne for 33 years. He won a singles gold medal at the 2002 World Masters Games in Melbourne and in 2006 was inducted into the Tennis Coaches Australia Victorian Hall of Fame.
Norm lives in Kirwan’s Bridge with his wife Bernice and is a proud father of 10 and grandfather of 26.
Valoja Illangasinghe
Valoja joined the KTF team at the beginning of the year and is conducting programs in the Dandenong/Noble Park area. Valoja is married with 2 children (Caitlyn 11 and Mitchell 8). He has been coaching for more than 10 years, holding ATPCA Level 2 and Tennis Australia Club Professional qualifications. Valoja has been the head coach at Dandenong Tennis Club now for 12 months and has increased coaching numbers by 100 students. Valoja currently competes in Grade 1 for Gracedale Park, having played Grade 1 for 10+ years.
FAREWELL……
Richard Girvan
Richard started with KTF 17 years ago and has been a loyal and dedicated coach during this time. In the beginning he was coaching in the Kyneton region and then most recently in the Corryong area. Richard has been a very popular coach with all his students and he has introduced many kids to the wonderful sport of tennis during his time with KTF. He will be sadly missed but we all wish him the best with his new career path and hope he can return to the KTF team one day.
“Dear Susie and Kate,
Firstly I would just like to thank you for all the work you have done over the years for me and let you know that this has been a very hard decision for me to leave tennis coaching. I would also like to commend you both on your work over the years. The KTF Program is something that I believe in very strongly and would not run without the passion and belief that you both have. I originally started with Kids Tennis Foundation for some extra money when I first got back from America and started my coaching business but I stayed in for a very selfish reason – the satisfaction I got from teaching kids who would never have had a chance to play the game was everything to me and is the thing that I will miss the most. Thanks for the chance to do this.”
Richard Girvan.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Kids Tennis Foundation wishes to thank the following tennis clubs and individuals for kindly donating used tennis balls, racquets, other tennis equipment or court time during 2007/08; many of whom donate on a regular basis:
Albert Reserve Tennis Centre
Bacchus Marsh Tennis Club
Chris Kachel
Diggers Rest Tennis Club
Harvey Tartakover
Manningham Social Tennis Club
Melton District Tennis Association
Melton South Tennis Club
Paul McNamee
Tennis School at Box Hill Senior Secondary School
Tennis Victoria
Shirley Flanders
Waverley Tennis Association
All balls and racquets are distributed to coaches for use in KTF Programs, or donated to schools so that children can use them during recess, lunchtime, before and after school. With around 200 programs each week all tennis equipment is gratefully received.
Thank you also to the following tennis clubs who have been most generous in donating court time to Kids Tennis Foundation so that coaches can conduct lessons at nearby tennis courts:
Carlton Gardens Tennis Club
East Melbourne Tennis Centre
Glenroy Tennis Club
Melton South Tennis Club
Melton District Tennis Association
West Brunswick Tennis Club
Being able to use courts free of charge certainly helps our cause no end, as the money we save can go directly back into more programs or keep existing programs going for longer.
TESTIMONIALS FROM VICTORIAN SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN THE KTF PROGRAM DURING 2007:
The Kids Tennis Foundation program is very important to our small inner-city school. The students from Holy Rosary come from very varied multi-cultural backgrounds, with many different needs. The students who are involved in the program love their time playing tennis. Not only is it a great time to get active and motivated, it is a time to learn new skills. Many students have never played tennis before and Kids Tennis Foundation gives them a small taste of a wonderful, energetic sport. Our tennis coach, Lou, has an excellent way with our students and strives to bring out the best in each child. We hope that through the KTF Program many of our students use our local community facilities and become life long tennis players.
Holy Rosary PS Kensington
Over 300 students have received coaching during the past 2 years in the Kids Tennis Foundation Program. The students have been enthusiastic and eagerly await the tennis lessons. The skills and activities will stand the students in good stead for their further development. On behalf of the students and staff I would sincerely like to thank Kids Tennis Foundation for giving our school the opportunity to participate in this most valuable Program.
Manorvale PS
Kings Park welcomed the opportunity to participate in the Kids Tennis Foundation Program. Providing this type of program allows children from disadvantaged backgrounds to enjoy experiences they would normally not participate in.
Kings Park PS
The children at St Stephen’s have enjoyed the fun, skills and physical activity that have come with being involved in the Kids Tennis Foundation Program. Many of our students do not get the opportunity to play sport outside school hours and this is a great way to introduce them to tennis.
St Stephen’s School, Reservoir
We have had the KTF Program for the last 2 years and it has been a tremendous success. In our isolated community only 1 or 2 children have had any contact with tennis so the KTF Program has been a wonderful skill-builder and social activity.
Diggers Rest PS
The students from years 3 to 6 have participated in the KTF Program and have absolutely loved it. The parents and staff at Findon have also been very impressed by the quality of the Program.
Findon PS
Kids Tennis Foundation was a wonderful experience for our students and staff. It enhanced our H&PE program and provided hours of fun and positive experiences for our students. It was lovely to not only watch their skills develop but see their confidence grow in a fun environment.
Malmsbury PS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
