Malcolm was born in Dwellingup in 1954. Dwellingup is a small timber and fruit growing area approximately 100 kilometres south of Perth. When he was 23, he had his very first game of tennis. It was a doubles match against his mother and aunty. His partner for that game was Ken McNess, who would later become his best man at his wedding. They were convincingly beaten.

In 1970, Malcolm moved to Perth to commence work. He had contracted rheumatic fever in 1968 and as a result his doctors had advised him not to play any sport and to seek work in an office. In 1970, despite the doctors’ advice, he decided that he was keen to play sport, regardless of the consequences. Later Malcolm started playing badminton, (successfully winning a Hills Mens’ Doubles in 1979), and tennis with a small group of friends. He also took up indoor cricket, and joined the South Suburban Cricket Association playing in one of the lower grades. Malcolm then decided that he could fit another sport into his busy schedule, so he ended up playing in a ten pin bowling team called the Kissin Kussins at Cannington on Wednesday nights from nine pm until mid-night for many years.

Malcolm married Robyn in November 1983 and for a while he stopped playing sport due to starting a family. He became a cub scout leader for ten years with the Cloverdale Scout Group. In 1999, Malcolm had open heart surgery and to replace his aortic valve. Five years later, Robyn was encouraging him to take up sport again. So, in October 2004, Malcolm went along to the Forrestfield Tennis Club, (FTC). He had gone down to the club the week before to check it out. He met with Stuart Chamberlain and Don Stephens who made both Malcolm and Robyn very welcome.

Malcolm successfully nominated for the position of Club Captain on FTC’s committee in 2006. He was club captain for four years after which he decided that he just wanted to play social tennis without the duties involved of being a club captain. In 2012, encouraged by Stuart Chamberlain, Malcolm again took on the role of Club Captain at FTC. He was to be Club Captain for ten years during this period, finishing in 2022. This brought Malcolm’s total number of years on FTC’s committee to 14 years.

Malcolm’s ten-year period as Club Captain from 2012 to 2022 proved to be very successful for the club, both financially and socially. He received many donations from his employer, Blackwoods, which he used to raise money for the club through raffles, or to be used as prizes for tennis events that he ran.

Malcolm was renowned at the club for running theme days throughout the year. Club members know how much effort he puts into making each occasion special. Those members who have attended FTC’s Christmas parties will have seen Santa arrive on a bike, down a homemade chimney, on a quad bike, on the back of a ute, with green aliens and even in a large Christmas present box to name a few. The following list gives an example of competitions he regularly held at the club:

Jan     Australia Day

Feb     Valentine’s Day

Mar     Saint Patrick’s Day

Apr      Anzac Day

May     Mothers’ Day

Jun     Cadbury Chocolate Day

Jul       American Singles Day

Aug     Suppliers’ Special Day

Sep     Fathers’ Day

Oct      Halloween event

Nov     Remembrance Day

Dec     Christmas or Suppliers Day

It is part due to these activities that one club member commented: “I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Malcolm is hugely responsible for the rise in the success of the club over the past 20 years.”

Malcolm has also been involved in club fund raising through the Bendigo Bank. He also organised many other club events such as mystery road bus trips and runs a very successful money in the box competition. Some of these events are used as fund raisers for the club and others just to enhance the club’s social well-being.

Malcolm has done a lot of work for FTC. He is a regular at club busy bees, and has currently been on the club’s committee for 14 years and with his successful nomination this year, 2023, for the position of club Captain, the number of years he has been on the committee will only increase.

Of recent years, Malcolm, plays tennis on Saturday afternoons, Tuesday mornings and has also played for the club in pennant competitions on Wednesday nights and the club’s intra club competitions. He enjoys watching tennis and his favourite players are Federer, Nadal, Alcaraz, Sharapova, Barty and Serena Williams. He also continues to play badminton socially. Malcolm says that he will continue to play tennis at FTC as long as he is able and that he thinks of the club as his second family.

For all his hard work and service to Forrestfield Tennis Club, Malcolm Warren was awarded Life Membership in 2019.

                                                                   Malcolm getting ready for tennis at FTC in 2004 .

                                     Malcolm with anothe FTC Life Member, Stuart Chamberlain, in 2007.