Welcome to the Weston Creek Tennis Club (WCTC) August Newsletter 2020. 

At the WCTC 2020 AGM held on Wednesday 19th August 2020,  a new Committee was nominated. The names and positions of the new Committee members can be found on the website HERE. In 2020-21, we welcome our new President, Peter Ward, and a new General Member, Carl Jackson. Otherwise, all other members are unchanged.

Please find below a message from our new President Peter Ward and a farewell to former President, Stewart Back.

Welcome from New WCTC President, Peter Ward

As the newly elected President of WCTC I am looking forward to working with the 2020/2021 Committee and the members of the club to make Weston Creek the best community tennis club in the ACT. The names and positions of the new Committee can be found on the website HERE and I thank them all for offering their time to assist in supporting and growing the club.

The Committee is here to manage the club and to ensure all members are gaining value from their membership and are enjoying the facilities and the activities. If any member has any concerns, or any suggestions as to how the club could be improved, please contact the Secretary, Clair Dupont by email: westoncreektennisclub@gmail.com. All suggestions will be considered.

At the recent AGM, the retiring President, Stewart Back, was presented with Life Membership of the club as well as a beautifully inscribed timber gift for his 13 years of service. I am sure Stewart’s contribution to the club is appreciated by all the past and present members. Further information on Stewart's 13 years of services and some photos and provided below.

Finally, can I remind all members that we are very fortunate to have the club open and can enjoy our tennis without restrictions. However, please do not be complacent. Can you please stay 1.5 metres apart, wash your hands before and after you play, and do not share water bottles or towels. A bit of awareness should hopefully go a long way to keeping our club “ open for business”.

Peter Ward
WCTC President 2020-21

Thank you Stewart Back

Stewart Back has been president of the Weston Creek Tennis Club for the past 13 years. The members and committee wish to thank Stewart and show their appreciation for the time and effort spent in carrying out these presidential duties.

The archives I accessed show Stewart as first assuming the Presidency in 2007/8 after having looked after the weekly social tennis for a number of years. Some would say that is a long time in a thankless job with very little recognition and even less remuneration. We have considered offering to double his pay-rate but we thought he may be offended or embarrassed at the idea of finding himself in a higher tax bracket.

Under his Stewart-ship the Club has undertaken and satisfactorily completed many projects which have added to the club’s facilities and provided enhanced amenity to its members. These include:

• Courts – 8 courts have been resurfaced
• Lights – changing from metal halide lights to LED – an interesting and somewhat frustrating project.
• Club house – Floor covering replacement and changeroom renovations.
• Installation of the electronic gate and booking system
• Gazebos – replacement of vandalized with new which attract increased usage.
• Periodical medical treatment for the prized elm tree.
• In-house projects carried out voluntarily by club members
• Rejuvenation of neglected landscaping and watering systems
• Cleaning-up vegetation and tree root invasion along the Southern fence
• Fence painting
• Artificial grass paths around the courts
• Out-door furniture painting and painting over Graffiti
• Stabilising damaged fence poles and rails

On matters financial

The club now benefits, to the tune of thousands of dollars each year, from participation in the loyalty rewards program offered by Canberra Southern Cross Club and Rebel Sports.

Stewart has led the charge against TA and the ACT Government’s inability to provide appropriate financial assistance towards maintaining our community oriented facility to a safe and inviting standard. This has been an ongoing battle for many years but recently Stewart exchanged his four legged white charger for a two wheeled variety. This nearly ended in a catastrophe. Enough said at this stage.

On matters of a social nature

Some may say Stewart’s skills shine brightest when organizing the social players’ Christmas Party where everybody goes home with a prize and it has been rumored some members, after the event, have not been able to find their cars in the carpark. He has also organised mid-year lunches and Christmas lunch for committee members.

That is an impressive presidential tenure, I hope I haven’t left off anything of great importance.

Presentation

Stewart, as a measure of our appreciation, the members and committee of the Weston Creek Tennis Club have awarded you an Honorary Life Membership and also present you with a “rotating dart board and tennis racquet repair kit” (otherwise known as Cheese platter and knives set) and as an afterthought, a copy of Mulga Bill’s Bicycle by Banjo Patterson which should be read every time you get the urge to “mount the two wheeled beast”.

Congratulations and thank you.

Geoff Kotz
WCTC Treasurer