Report 2020
2020 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
LANCEFIELD TENNIS CLUB
Hi committee and tennis club members,
Wow, what a year we have all had, and it’s not over yet! The Covid pandemic and ongoing restrictions have played havoc with every sporting club and community facility all over Victoria and Lancefield Tennis Club has not been immune.
Membership/Competition
Our previous year started well with the club memberships holding steady and having multiple teams in each MRTA competition, that being juniors on a Friday night and Saturday morning, senior mixed doubles on a Saturday afternoon and the Thursday comp getting stronger with Lancefield having teams in each section. Another Premiership flag was won by our section 1 team in the Saturday afternoon Summer comp. YAY, and Congratulations.
Coaching Arrangements
At the end of 2019 we farewelled Jamieson Liersch as the club coach. We celebrated his contribution to the club with a social night of tennis and we warmly thanked him for all he had done for the juniors he coached and for his overall involvement at Lancefield. He was always a lively and positive person who inspired a love of tennis in his students and actively encouraged and supported their entry into competition.
After interviewing a number of coaches who were interested in the coaching position we engaged the tennis coaching services of Spark Tennis, a business that also has coaching venues throughout the Macedon Ranges. We now have Andrew as our club coach and he has successfully taken on the roll and is a popular and in demand coach.
Fund Raising
Just before Christmas the committee took a turn at the Lancefield farmer’s Market and we held a Devonshire Tea. It wasn’t the best weather but we managed to sell a few scones, some raffle tickets for a Christmas Hamper and promote our club to the community.
In partnership with the Lancefield Golf Club, the major fundraiser for the year was the big Music and Dance night at the Mechanics Hall with music, drinks, food and a silent auction. It was a great night and a big success. I want to thank Roger Barr, Karen Bowden and Kaylene Cruise for all their planning, organising and effort that went into the night.
Events
In January the club organised a coach to the Australian Open where we enjoyed another great night of tennis in the Summer heat. This seems to be an event that is becoming a tradition, although the Open might look a bit different in 2021.
The club took part in a Tennis Vic promotion that saw 8 Monday nights put aside for a social “hit and giggle” for people who might not have played before or players who were looking for ways to re new their participation in a local tennis club. Involvement in the program meant that our club was given a variety of equipment including balls, racquets, nets and a Bluetooth speaker. It was a fun and light-hearted approach to attracting new players and possible memberships. I want to thank Peter Bertoncini from Tennis Vic for his help and support to run this program.
Covid-19 Restrictions and Plan
Now we come to the real drama of 2020. Covid restrictions have limited our access to the courts for the better part of 6 months. Even though competition has resumed the social aspect of tennis has been removed and all players are required to “arrive-play-leave”, effectively. The club has a Covid plan that needs to be followed by all members who play tennis, either socially or competitively and this is displayed at the courts. Thank you to Peter Liersch for registering the club with a QR code which makes contact tracing requirements so much easier. We have received some grant money to help assist the club transition to Covid protocols and requirements and to buy the extra things we need, ie sanitiser, cleaning products, masks etc. Coaching is still able to happen and Spark Tennis have their own set of Covid protocols they follow according to its governing body.
Reduction in Membership Fees
The committee has made the decision to reduce the cost of membership for the coming year so that we don’t burden our members unnecessarily. We are mindful of our community’s changing circumstances and the on-going impact Covid has placed on local families and businesses. It is hard to predict when our tennis life might return to normal and we need to be flexible and sensitive to the needs of our local community.
I want to thank everyone on this fabulous committee, we all work to our best ability and give what we can. I, as President, appreciate all the work and effort and time that goes into keeping a small club like ours going strong with a friendly and welcoming reputation. It is a pleasure to be a part of this club