By JARROD POTTER
ACING their way to the top of Tennis Victoria’s honours lists are a number of south-eastern tennis clubs and players.
Announced on Tuesday morning by Tennis Victoria, the Victorian Tennis Awards have a local flair with south-east well represented in the major accolades nominations.
Debuting as one of the nominated clubs for the Most Outstanding Club, Centre or Association Award is Berwick Tennis Club, which has earned its first nomination alongside newcomers Mt Eliza Tennis Club and Sale Tennis Club.
Berwick is also up against Doveton-based Waverley Tennis for the premier club award in the state.
Berwick Tennis Club president Shane Fielding was thrilled to receive the nomination and thought it was a great thrill to see their efforts acknowledged.
“We’ve certainly done a lot of work in the last two or three years to build our membership up and make the club a place that people want to play tennis,” Fielding said.
“We’ve been successful in a number of ways to do that – and being recognised by being shortlisted doing the right thing for other clubs to use as an example.
“It starts with having a good bunch of coaches that are running really good programs and attracting younger juniors that are starting out in tennis.”
With over 20 teams registered in the Berwick District Tennis Association, the club is flourishing with numbers well over 100 on court for this year’s winter season.
Berwick Tennis Club hoped to improve its facilities in coming years as well and was in consultation with the City of Casey to make sure its Arch Brown Reserve facility remained at peak standard to promote the next generation of up-and-coming tennis stars.
“The club has been doing a lot of work to get facilities improved,” Fielding said. “We’re looking to gain some support from the council to tip some money in for our courts and hopefully a good standard for our people to play on.
“Our head coach Allison (Miller) presented a local Casey tennis forum a few weeks ago – there was a Tennis Victoria representative there and clubs throughout the City of Casey attended.
“The reason she was asked to present at that forum was to highlight the successes we’re having in growing the club.”
Fielding wanted to thank the coaches, players and especially the Berwick Tennis Club’s committee for improving the club year on year.
In the Junior Athlete of the Year categories, last year’s winners Destanee Aiava, 15, from Narre Warren, is in the running for the female award.
Aiava – who plays for Noble Park Tennis Club and Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club – continues to go from strength-to-strength and will be a red-hot favourite for the title after another big season on court.
Former Endeavour Hills tennis player Omar Jasika, 18, is also in the running for an award, with his dual Junior US Open victories last year making him a great prospect for the Junior Athlete of the Year – Male award.
