The community is being invited to get to know Medowie Tennis Club's new head coach, have a hit and see what new programs are coming soon to the courts this weekend.
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A free family fun day will be held at the Medowie Tennis Courts in Grey Gum Street from 10.30am to 1.30pm on Sunday, April 11. The day will include fun tennis activities, a barbecue and a raffle.
Club head coach Blake Denison will be seeking to find the fastest serve on the day, with the winner to take home a prize.
"Tennis NSW looks forward to being a part of this program launch and wishes Blake and the club all the best with this venture to open the facility for more people to play tennis more often in the Medowie community," a Tennis NSW spokesperson said.
Medowie Tennis Club president Greg Lamborn and the committee welcomed Denison, who is also head coach of Nelson Bay Tennis Club, and his team to the club in March.
His appointment is hoped to further build tennis in Medowie.
The Medowie club hosts several mid-week social tennis activities for men and women but only hosts a small Friday afternoon junior program.
"It is the club's aim to build this level of activity and engage many of the local schools and working community into the tennis centre for a weekly fun and healthy activity," the Tennis NSW spokesperson said.
Denison remains the coach and manager for Nelson Bay Tennis Club, a position he has held for six years, but will bring his Blake Denison Tennis Academy team, coaching programs and junior holiday camps to Medowie.
"I'm very excited to join Medowie Tennis Club," Denison told the Examiner in March. "I want to work with businesses and the community to raise the profile of tennis in Medowie, to get more people playing and using the great courts we have here."
Denison, from Medowie, has a range of programs, events and offers lined up to being recruiting more juniors and adults into the club.
He will run a tennis camp for children of any skill aged 4 to 16 during the Easter school holidays. The camp will be held at the Medowie tennis courts on April 13, 14 and 15.
A Hot Shots program will launch at Medowie during school term two, running on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
The program is open to children aged 4 to 16 who will train in one of three age groups - 4 to 7 years old, 8 to 10 and 11 to 16.
Children enrolled in the term two Hot Shots program will receive membership to Medowie Tennis Club for free, which will entitle them to free court use - to have a hit with family and friends - at any time.
Denison said it was important to get more children interested in the sport and the club as "they are the future".
"Tennis is a great sport for kids," he said. "They learn basic hand-eye coordination and are staying active. Plus there's the potential to progress professionally. Tennis is also a lifelong sport. They begin playing it now, they can continue until they're much older which has health benefits to them."
Anyone interested in heading along to the free family fun day or enrolling into the holiday camp or Hot Shots program is asked to register their interest with Denison by phone 0403 634 667 or email blake.deno@gmail.com.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
