|
 |
NEWS - NSW NEWS 2008
| New South Wales - Published on December 23‚ 2008 |
November 2008
The majority of the KTF programs in New South Wales are conducted in rural and country areas where children rarely have the opportunity to learn tennis, but through the KTF Program and our dedicated coaches, these children are given an introduction to this great game – one they can be involved in for life. Many of the children who have participated in the Program during the year have developed a keen interest and have started to play after school and on weekends.
A very positive report received from the Principal, Mr Mike Reynolds, Ellangowan Public School:
"Thank you for allowing us to be part of your program for the last two years. It has been greatly appreciated.
As part of a small, isolated community the children at Ellangowan have benefited from the ongoing and developmental nature of the program. I believe that they have grown in confidence and coordination.
In our playground since the KTF program began, lunchtime activities have become more active and group oriented. Tennis games are often played and the games include many of the children from Kinder to Year 6 and it is wonderful to see the way that the older children assist and encourage the younger ones.
Another benefit for our school has been the way I have seen children reach out to try other organised sports. Many now travel regularly to large communities to take part in weekend sport. They have become more interest in developing a healthy lifestyle.
Thank you again for employing a fantastic professional tennis coach for our regular lessons. The winner is tennis and the community of Ellangowan!"
Thanks to dedicated KTF coach Trent George for his great effort at Ellangowan Public School
JENNY & JAMIE ON THE MOVE
Jenny Kirkman and her son Jamie have been coaching with KTF for a number of years, conducting programs in public schools at Bellimbopinni, John River, Eungai Creek and Stuart Point. Unfortunately for KTF in NSW they have decided to make a move up north and are now living in Queensland. We thank Jenny and Jamie for all their support of KTF and wish them well with their work in the Sunshine State.
THANK YOU!
A big thank you to all school principals, sport co-ordinators, teachers, parents and students involved in the Program during 2008. You have all played such an important part in the success of our Program; your support has helped KTF to function efficiently and your valuable feedback helps us to keep going from strength to strength. Thank you so much.
I receive many reports from school principals, sport coordinators and students, praising the coaches who conduct the KTF Program with professionalism, turning tennis into an interesting and fun game.
Our professional coaches deserve to be acknowledged for their effort and devotion to coaching the children, especially in isolated areas. Sincere thanks to the wonderful KTF coaches in NSW:
Geoffrey Booth, Adolfo Garcia, Trent George, Jenny Kirkman, Jamie Kirkman, Michael Mills, Helen Thompson, Jill and Kerry White.
Many thanks also to our many wonderful friends, clubs and associations, for their ongoing support, donations and for collecting used tennis balls and racquets for KTF.
Special thanks to Medibank International Sydney Tournament Director, Mr Craig Watson, who has for many years generously donated ground passes to thousands of KTF children to attend this tournament; St George/Sutherland Junior Masters Series Tournament Director, Mr Ron Grant, the committee, parents and players; Vince and Tomoko Barclay Coaching Academy; Eastwood-Thornleigh District Tennis Association Inc.; and Grahame Pearson, Rockdale Tennis Centre.
To everyone, enjoy the festive season, have a very Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year.
And earlier this year.....
May 2008
There was a star-studded line-up once again at this year’s Medibank International tennis tournament in January. Held at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre at Homebush it is always an exciting event and some very lucky KTF kids had the opportunity to watch world-class players in action, including Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Dmitry Tursunov and Aussie Chris Guccione. The students, mostly from rural and country areas of NSW, all enjoyed the tennis and a day in the city despite the scorching summer heat.
The feedback from students showed there is enormous interest in the game of tennis. One student said “A trip to the city with the family was something rare, and to top it off with some fantastic tennis was just awesome.” Another student said “It was wonderful to receive a ground pass, it was like winning a lottery!”
The opportunity for our KTF students to visit the Sydney Olympic Tennis Centre and to watch and enjoy some great tennis is due to the generosity of Tennis New South Wales. We are very grateful to Craig Watson, former CEO of Tennis NSW, for his wonderful and ongoing support of KTF since his appointment as CEO in 1999. His generosity in providing the ground passes had benefitted many of our students over the years, giving them the chance to experience first class international tennis.
Craig has since moved on to his new position with Tennis Australia, and all at KTF wish him well in his new role as the Tournament Director for the Medibank International. The new Chief Executive Officer of Tennis NSW is Glenn Tasker. Glenn has many years of experience in sports administration and management. I am looking forward to working with Glenn and continuing the relationship between Tennis NSW and Kids Tennis Foundation.
Ellangowan Public School, Casino
The students from Ellangowan Public School just love their weekly tennis. Their coach Trent George has taught them many different games and always makes the lessons fun!
Report from the Principal:
"Thank you for the ongoing support offered to our school through the KTF program. We are particularly excited because we have just gained a large cement area that we can now use as a tennis court. In the next couple of weeks it will be marked for tennis, basketball and volleyball. The program has created a lot of interest in tennis and the development of skills has been impressive.”
St Peter’s Primary School, Stockton
Students are full of praise for their coach, Michael Mills, who demonstrates his ability to combine fun and learning in his weekly tennis lessons. The students enjoy his new games ‘Pacman; Tennis Cricket and Rob the Nest’. Thanks Michael for introducing these interesting tennis games to the students!
Avondale Primary School, Cooranbong
It is all fun and games for the students at Avondale Primary School. Their coach Geoff Booth has helped the students develop a love for tennis and has won the respect of students and teachers. The report received from the Sports Coordinator at Avondale Primary School shows how much the school, students and parents have embraced the KTF program…
“It has been a privilege to have the Kids Tennis Foundation Program operate at our school. It has been a great success. Geoff Booth, our coach, is excellent and has a great rapport with our needy students. I recently surveyed the students involved and they all said that they love the program and that they do not want it to stop. Different children participate in the Program each term and students pester me to rejoin the Program each week! I have also surveyed the parents and they tell me they are most happy and supportive of the Program. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this great program, as we see it as very beneficial to our disadvantaged students.”
Teralba Primary School, Teralba
A favourable report received from Teralba Primary School shows how much the students enjoy their weekly tennis lessons..
“Thursday afternoon tennis is a favourite time of the week for many Teralba students. The children watch for the coach Geoff Booth’s car to arrive and rush to greet him. They eagerly carry his equipment to the playground and help set up for the afternoon’s coaching sessions. Our school is small with around 80 students and by the end of the year almost every child has had the opportunity to attend coaching sessions. It is obvious how much the children enjoy this time as many students don’t want the Program to come to an end.
At the conclusion of their time in the KTF program each student receives a certificate for participation. Perhaps more importantly they all receive an introduction to the game of tennis. They are provided with some basic skills that will last them a lifetime and allow them to confidently participate in the wonderful game of tennis. This is a valued service provided to the students at our school and something they can take with them and build on in the future. Tennis at Teralba is tops!”
Report from coach Geoff Booth:
We have four schools currently participating in the KTF program in the Lake Macquarie area with approximately sixty-four eager students participating each term. Over the year we will have introduced 256 students to the game of tennis in this area. Many of these children would not have the opportunity to learn tennis if it was not for the KTF program.
The kids enjoy the lessons and from a coach’s point of view it is rewarding to see their faces when they succeed in completing something new or some of the little ones when they actually connect with the ball.
Thanks to all the students who wrote in and expressed how much they enjoyed the tennis lessons. Below are some comments from students involved in the KTF Program:
“I really enjoyed the tennis lessons. They are fun because there are lots of good games; the lessons also helped me improve my hitting and aiming skills” Pippa, Eungai PS
I think Michael our coach is very nice, he makes up fun games and he is very good at tennis. He makes every lesson fun, he kicks off and then he never stops, my favourite games are “Colours” and “Pacman”, but really every game is fun” Jem, St Peters PS Stockton
"I loved the lessons that Michael gave us, he taught us back-hand and forehand, and a lot more things, I loved the games too, Michael is definitely the best coach ever, he is fantastic” Will, St Peter’s PS Stockton.
"I love tennis, it rocks! I really enjoyed playing tennis, my favourite games are Jail Break and Jail Break 2, it is a great way to work out and keep fit. Our coach Trent George is really funny and he incorporates learning tennis with fun games, I think that it ROCKS!" Rosie, Ellangowan PS Casino.
Thanks sooo much, I absolutely love tennis and the games we played are awesome. I am also getting better at it, my favourite game is “two vs one” Tahni, Ellangowan PS Casino.
I think the tennis program is very good and Geoff is helping to improve my backhand, I get to use my muscles and I have made good friends with all the kids. We have a great teacher and I want to keep going" Jordan, Avondale PS, Cooranbong.
I like going to tennis because I really like tennis, its fun and I have friends who go as well. I would like to keep going, I tell my mum and dad about all the fun I have" Thomas, Avondale PS, Cooranbong. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
