Nearly a century of tennis

Continued from page 1 year,” Mr Gooch said during a presentation on the club’s history following the Jubilee luncheon. inaugurated 75 years ago.

Around 70 people, mostly past and present members, attended the celebration. People travelled from as far north as the Wairarapa and Waiterere Beach.

One of the most interesting historical facts that people attending the Jubilee learned was that the club has actually been operating for almost 100 years.

Next year it will be 100 years old, he said. The club began just after the first tennis court was laid at Wainuiomata School in 1924.

Julie Scott, one of the club’s top junior players and who is still playing at the top level, and the current club secretary Hayley

Lorraine – who joined the club in 1963 and was President for 20 consecutive years – cut the 75th Jubilee cake.

Larsen met the attendees, giving them their name tags and a voucher for a complimentary drink.

Following the cake cutting Lorraine gave a talk on her memories of the club, and Joyce spoke about Ian Gooch’s contribution to Wainuiomata tennis.

Last Sunday’s Jubilee was celebrating 75 since the club was first incorporated, rather than when it began operating.

The court was built on the site of the school’s first classroom, which was built in 1857 and then demolished in 1916 after a new classroom was built in 1908.

“It is actually the club’s 100th

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The club played tennis on this court at Wainuiomata School for some 24 years, before moving to its current premises just before it

As well as winning club championships, Julie won two New Zealand titles, in the 12 years and under singles and doubles.

Two of the three Jubilee organisers, Lorraine Cooper and Joyce Lockyer, did all the catering, and

After lunch people played on four of the club’s five courts. One match was an exhibition mixed doubles match featuring Julie Scott and Richard van Gaalen against Pauline Yemm and Mark Dolan.