Speech-Kingston Tennis Club Celebrates Milestone

Meg raised the recent official launch of the Kingston Tennis Club’s Upgraded Facilities, as a Special Interest Matter, on Tuesday, 22 August 2023.

Ms WEBB (Nelson) – Mr President, I am delighted today to speak today about the impressive efforts by the Kingston Tennis Club to fulfil a longheld dream of upgrading its facilities which were officially opened – finally – on Saturday 8 July. 

The realisation of this six‑year long dream has most definitely been a labour of love, perseverance and determined grit. 

The best representation of that determination, and to place the Kingston Tennis Club’s achievement in context, is their chronology of work and effort undertaken.  This was detailed in a speech at the opening by the club’s president, Trish Jay.  I am going to paraphrase here with Trish’s kind permission so people can see the pathway taken for the wonderful upgrading of facilities.

First, in 2017 the Kingston Tennis Club began with a masterplan, listing many goals including new courts, new court lighting, book‑a‑court installation and a hitting wall as well as the establishment of community hotshot courts.  During this process the Kingston Tennis Club committee undertook a consultation with members and the general public to help future-proof the club for the next generation of players.

By 2019‑20, submission No. 1 was put together and was submitted detailing a grants request.  It also outlined potential council contributions and club funding contributions.  That grant application was considered and, heartbreakingly, unsuccessful. 

To 2020‑21, submission No. 2 for grant funding was submitted.  That grant application outcome was, heartbreakingly again, unsuccessful – absolute heartbreak, leaving many demoralised club members struggling to find momentum to continue. 

The year 2021‑22 saw submission No. 3 made with a team of supporters assisting with its documentation.  By this stage, the upgrade was becoming desperately needed at the Kingston Tennis Club.  Lo and behold, grant application No. 3 – success! – apparently, many tears of joy.

Ms Rattray – Third time lucky.

Ms WEBB – Third time lucky indeed.  The bulk of these much-needed grant funds have come from the state Government through that grant round, with contributions also from Kingborough Council and Tennis Tasmania.  It was a real team effort and, while the saying may be third time lucky, luck had little to do with it, while hard work, particularly from the club leadership, had everything to do with it.  Safe to say, the club was beyond delighted to finally secure the grant.  Then the hard work began. 

As we here all know so well, securing the funding is merely the first vital step. 

The fate of a project relies vitally upon project planning, delivery and execution.  Given that this considerable upgrade commenced in November 2022 and officially opened in July this year, this project’s successful completion is a huge testament to the team effort and impressive planning by the Kingston Tennis Club’s amazing members and volunteers, who seemingly can undertake major projects and upgrades all in their stride.  This team’s effort saw the upgrade of courts with two now consisting of the latest in artificial grass and two converted to Plexicushion.  It also included refencing and new accessible gates installed.  Yet, there is more.

Not only did the Kingston Tennis Club surmount this huge funding and logistical challenge to achieve their futureproofing upgrade, they did so while ensuring the majority of waste products from the upgrade were reduced, reused and recycled. 

Impressively, more than 90 per cent of the old fences, court grasses, fencing wires, consumables and containers used by the contractors were recycled and repurposed.  This was done at a range of facilities throughout the municipalities of Kingborough, Derwent Valley at Lake Meadowbank, Mountain River and Franklin in the Huon Valley.  These items now have a second life as matting for pets, boat access ramps, farm fencing, animal and pet food storage, paddock shelters and even strawberry planters.

I hope I have presented adequately here today – as bringing the story of the Kingston Tennis Club’s major facility upgrade efforts to the attention of the House is, in a way, a continuation of the well-deserved celebrations that commenced on the July formal opening of those revamped facilities.

Further, given the acknowledged generous and vital grant contributions made primarily by the state Government – and I thank the state Government for the support as well as the other major financial contributions from the Kingborough Council – it is pertinent to update the parliament on the successful expenditure of those grant moneys and the meaningful impact the funding has made on the much-loved community club.

In the eyes of many in the Nelson electorate, the Kingston Tennis Club is the little club that could, and this huge effort is paying off. 

In the few short months since the completion of the upgraded facilities, Kingston Tennis Club has reported a resurgence of inquiries from people seeking access to the family-friendly courts and facilities.  The reinstated online booking portal is well utilised.  I encourage any members here, or others listening, to consider logging on to explore what the club has to offer.

I conclude by echoing the catchcry of the Kingston Tennis Club president, the indomitable Trish Jay, who says:  ‘Kingston Tennis Club – it is way more than tennis’.

View a downloadable pdf of Meg’s speech below: