Don Mann 21/2/29 – 16/6/06. Don was a member for more than fifty years serving as President from 1967-68, Treasurer from 1954-55, 1956-57 and Social Secretary along the way. The club was very socially active in the past and large dinner dances and other events were organised.

Don loved those occasions and only missed them when he was overseas- he was a prolific traveller.

Don acted as Father Christmas for the end of the year functions, a task that came naturally with his head of white hair. He played match and social

tennis and enjoyed going to country tournaments with fellow members.

Don left a legacy to the club, which has been used to fund a trophy for the junior boys player of the season.

Also a watercolour painting of the club was commissioned and now hangs above the fireplace.

RUSSEL SMARTT

Russel Smartt left Melbourne at the age of 16 for the Wimmera to be a jockey. When he came back to Melbourne in 1970, he joined South Hawthorn where his good friends Keith and Lola Young were members. Russel soon became involved at committee level and was President from 1983-85.

Russel remembers playing Saturday afternoons when the club had 8 competition teams with only 4 courts. Matches went very late, finishing when the street lights came on. With so many teams the job of the selection committee was a very important one at the club. Russel served on that committee for many years

On Sundays 30 players or more would play social tennis. Players would go on court for one set then be off for two sets. For a period of time, tennis was Russel’s life and he and other members spent countless hours looking after the club and courts.

KERRY WUNDERSITZ

Kerry joined South Hawthorn in 1968. Her father Bruce Taylor served on the executive committee and selection committee. Her mother Myrtle Taylor was awarded life membership

in 1984, she served as secretary from 1970-77 and 1982.

Kerry served on the executive, selection and social committees for over 25 years. She held the positions of President 1993-97, Secretary 1978-80. 1997-2002, 2004-08 and Treasurer,1981-83.

She was Junior Convener for five years. She was awarded life membership in 1999.

She received an Australian Government Sports Award for services to tennis.

She has won the Ladies Singles title ( at the time of writing ) 11 times. 1987,89,90.92.93.94,95,96,98,99,2010

CYNTHIA DOERNER

Cynthia was co-coach at South Hawthorn from 1996-2010. She played in what she describes as the “Golden Era” of Australian tennis, the 1970’s. She was on the international circuit for 9 years, competing in all the Grand Slam events. Cynthia’s highest ranking was #15 in the world and #6 in Australia. She played against Billie-Jean King, Evonne Goolagong, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. She beat Martina in the semi finals of a tournament in Southern California.

In mixed matches she played against John McEnroe, Bjorn Borge and Vitas Gerulaitis. In John McEnroe’s autobiography he mentions a match in his first Grand Slam event, the French Open of 1977. Mary Carillo and McEnroe were cruising through the mixed doubles, “Our roughest match was a three setter in the semis against Tomas Koch of Brazil and Cynthia Doerner of Australia”.

Cynthia played an exhibition match in Central Park New York for underpriviged kids with Borge and Gerulaitis who were really good friends.

After her tournament career, Cynthia coached in the USA for 8 years, the last 2 as Head Coach of the Women’s Tennis Program at Fresno State University. She returned to Australia and was made coach at South Hawthorn along with Sue Davey in 1996.

Cynthia’s two sons both played college tennis in the USA.

Scott Doerner played for Pepperdine University in Malibu from 2003-06. Pepperdine won the NCAA Championship in his Senior year. He was made All American in 2005-06 and was ranked as high as #2 in doubles and #14 in singles. He played in the main draw of the Australian Open.

Austin Doener was awarded a scholarship to De Paul University in Chicago and played #1 on the team in his Junior and Senior years.

Both Scott and Austin coach at Pepperdine and as they became more settled in the USA, Cynthia decided to move to California in 2011.   In her years at South Hawthorn Cynthia was involved in the club as a coach and Comittee member and was made Coach of the Year by Tennis Victoria.