THE FORMATION OF CENTENARY PARK TENNIS CLUB (est. 1967)

In the beginning, an approach was made by the Moorabbin Council to Father Casey, Parish Priest of St. Peter’s East Bentleigh, that there was vacant land in Brady Road, East Bentleigh, which the Council wanted to develop for the general use of residents in the area.

Accordingly, Father Casey approached John Oakley, John Guiney and Des Lawler to see what could be done in this regard.  Initital discussions between the individuals indicated that a tennis complex of some kind could be set up for use of residents in the East Bentleigh area on a non-denominational basis open to all.

A Co-operative Society was formed in order to organise finance for the project and the first directors were

D.W Lawler, J.P Guiney, J.G Oakley, P.D Newman, R.G Hunt, A.T Kennedy, and M. Pelletier.

A Formation Meeting was held in St. Peter’s Hall In October 1966 where these important events took place:

• A Constitution was established
• 139 Shareholders/members were recorded
• A Lease was signed with the Moorabbin Council
• Finance was obtained from the Commonwealth Bank under the security of a Government guarantee
• Arrangements were made for 4 en-tout-cas tennis courts to be built.

The first Annual General Meeting of the CPTC Co-operative Society was held in St. Peter’s Hall on Friday, 17th November, 1967, at which the minutes of the Formation Meeting were confirmed.  In 1968, Moorabbin Council arranged for the land to be levelled and the 4 tennis courts were completed and opened for play on 4th May, 1968. In June of the same year, the first Social Committee was formed: D Buckley, N Morgan, J.Honey, C. Hilchins, M.McLeod and M.Pelletier.  August 1968 brought about the appointment of Club Coach, Jack Robinson who commenced this job in September of the same year.

After additional finance was raised, the construction of the Club House was commenced in 1970, with the official opening on 26th June by Cr. L.R. Coates. One year later, Court 5 was constructed.