What a year it has been! As we reflect on the past twelve months at Elwood Park Tennis Club, we have much to be proud of. From starting our court resurfacing, ongoing growth of our membership and strong team performances, 2023/24 has been a year of achievement and progress. We’ve put the challenges of the Covid lockdowns behind us, and we’ve successfully negotiated with the Port Phillip Council to secure our place here for the future.
Key Achievements in 2023/24
1. Membership and Growth
Our club is thriving, and, with over 500 members, we have reached full capacity. In fact, our membership waiting list now exceeds 100 applicants. A remarkable 95% of our existing members renewed their memberships this year. While we would love to accommodate more members, our options are limited by the number of available courts.
2. Financial Health
I am pleased to report that the club’s financial position is strong. In FY2024, total income was $85,408, gross profit was $85,096 and net surplus was $45,470. With respect to the FY2024 balance sheet, the club had total equity of $417,637 and bank balances of $355,610.
Although the resurfacing of the courts has significantly reduced the available funds, the club has still been able to maintain a healthy cash reserve for unforeseen emergencies.
I would like to extend thanks to Kristian Kostov, our Treasurer, for his diligent work in keeping the clubs financials.
3. Court Resurfacing Project
A major highlight of the year was the commencement of our long-awaited court resurfacing project. After careful planning, tenders were sent to contractors, and Tiger Turf was awarded the contract. The project has been challenging and time- consuming, requiring significant funding from the club and countless hours of volunteer effort. However, the results speak for themselves – our courts are now in outstanding condition, providing an excellent playing surfaces for all members. A huge thank you to Dale O’Neill for his exemplary project management work, including his tireless efforts in liaising with the Port Phillip Council.
4. Court Booking System & Fundraising
A special mention must go to Jill Steele for her work in setting up our new court booking system. This initiative has already begun to generate significant extra income for the club and has streamlined the way our members access and use the courts.
5. Grants and Financial Support
The club was fortunate to receive substantial financial support including a $93,500 GST inclusive grant from the Port Phillip Council and an additional $38,080 GST inclusive grant from Tennis Australia. These funds were crucial in supporting the court resurfacing project and have helped to minimise the impact on membership fees, allowing the club to keep costs manageable while improving its facilities. In addition, Tennis Australia also supported the club with the book a court installation by providing $5,560 in financial assistance.
6. Award Recognition
This year Jill Steele was honoured with an Exceptional Services Award by Tennis Victoria. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Jill's long-standing dedication and hard work in supporting the club and its members. Congratulations Jill, thank you for your ongoing contributions to the success of Elwood Park Tennis Club.
7. Competitions & Social Play
Our social and competitive tennis scene has once again flourished.
The Tuesday night competition, expertly organised by Nick Buck, was a great success. The Friday morning ladies social competition, which offers a structured 4 term fixture, continues to be well supported. It’s fantastic to see so many members involved in these social programs.
On Saturdays, our courts continue to be in high demand, with all our courts in use during afternoon competitive play. This year, we had four teams competing in the Bayside winter league, with three of them making it to the finals. Notably, our Section 1 Men’s Doubles team won the grand final for the fourth season in a row, a great achievement!
We also had four teams in the Mid-week Ladies competition, two each on Wednesdays and Thursdays, achieving great results across the season. It’s inspiring to see such engagement and success across our various teams and leagues.
BAYSIDE REGIONAL TENNIS SUMMER 2023-2024 MENS DOUBLE TEAM SECTION 1 PREMIERS
John Bailey, Kristian Kostov, Dale O’Neill, Todd Perkinson, Richard Sharp
BAYSIDE REGIONAL TENNIS WINTER 2024 MENS DOUBLE TEAM SECTION 1 PREMIERS
Kristian Kostov, Dale O’Neill, Richard Sharp, Todd Perkinson.
BAYSIDE REGIONAL TENNIS WINTER 2024 LADIES WEDNESDAY SECTION 1 RUNNERS UP
Lucy Brylski, Kaye Lewis, Jill Steele, Claire Hardie, Monica Edwards
BAYSIDE REGIONAL TENNIS WINTER 2024 MIXED SECTION RUNNERS UP
Pam Herdman, Michelle Blannin, Mark Petit, Bill Moohan
8. Coaching Program
A huge thank you goes to our Coach, Nick Buck, who continues to provide a fantastic coaching program for both adults and juniors.
Elwood Park tennis Club enters teams in the BRTA Midweek Ladies Competition.
Nick’s passion and commitment to developing players of all abilities has been
If you’re interested in coaching, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Nick via
mobile - 0417 346 073
email - nicholasbuck.tennis@gmail.com.
9. Volunteers & Community
None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our club volunteers, committee members, team captains, and members who support the day-to-day running of the club. From organising events to maintaining the facilities, our volunteers are the lifeblood of the club.
I extend my thanks to every one of you for your invaluable contributions. Looking ahead we are excited for another great year at Elwood Park Tennis Club. With four newly resurfaced courts and a strong community, I am confident that the future is bright. We have a wonderful summer of tennis to look forward to, and I am excited to see what the coming year will bring. Thank you all for your continued support and commitment to our club.
John Bailey
APPENDIX 1 - FINANCIAL REPORTS
