Community helps fund Tennis Hot Shots mini-courts in Mudgee

Junior tennis players in the NSW community of Mudgee are lining up to test out their new ANZ Tennis Hot Shots mini-courts.

The Mudgee District Tennis Club began installing the new courts late last year and officially opened them at the end of March.

Club Secretary Cameron Anderson said the Club felt it was important to improve its junior facilities, explaining “the committee made a strategic decision to invest in the future of the club by providing a state-of-the-art facility for the region’s children.

“The permanent courts also allow the entire community to enjoy the courts all year round as opposed to just during lessons. It will really benefit both the club and the wider Mudgee community.”

Anderson paid tribute to the Mudgee community for helping fund the courts, with tireless fundraising by locals over a 15-month period complementing donations from local businesses and council, government and Tennis Australia grants, adding “without the support of the local community this project would not have been possible.”

The new ANZ Tennis Hot Shots mini-courts replace two full-sized synthetic grass courts at the club.

Anderson explains that the former “courts were becoming dangerous to play on and were in need of up upgrading, so it was perfect timing because this location was far better suited to junior courts – it is close to the clubhouse amenities, water, off street parking, shade and a playground.

“We then resurfaced two of the dilapidated courts at the other end of the courts to bring the number of synthetic grass courts back to eight.”

Anderson said former club coach Rebecca George was a strong advocate of the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots program and encouraged the club to install the mini-courts – work now being continued by George’s recently appointed replacement Nathan Wilkins.

With Wilkins having relaunched the program, Anderson concluded “the coach is averaging three to five inquiries a day, with discussions also  underway with various schools in the region.

“We are all really excited about the potential and it is great to have Nathan on board to utilise the new facilities.”

Click here for more information about ANZ Tennis Hot Shots competitions.

8th May 2014 - ANZ SERVES UP TENNIS HOT SHOTS