Mallabula's tennis centre has emerged from the lockdown with a brand new court and lighting which will not only boost sporting opportunities in the Port, but the wider region as well.
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Now home to one of the few hardcourts in the Hunter, Tilligerry Tennis Club can begin offering more training, social and competitive tennis plus a space for even more sports as the new surface is suitable for a range of purposes including basketball and futsal.
"The new court provides us and the community with more opportunities than ever before," Tilligerry Tennis Club treasurer Helen Tucker said.
"It means we can host more events, more players at any one time and it's possible now to host the junior competitions because we have the space.
"We're trying to build a better community facility, especially one for kids. We need the younger generations to use the courts because that's the future of our club.
"Having a hardcourt, which is the surface that many major tennis tournaments are played on, will give our players greater opportunities to go further in the sport.
"Because the net can be removed from the new court, it is a multipurpose court. We can open it to even more sports."
The $250,000 hardcourt was funded and built by Port Stephens Council with Tilligerry Tennis Club spending an additional $25,000 to upgrade the lighting at its two existing synthetic courts to LEDs.
It is part of a $2.3 million spend by the council to upgrade sporting facilities and pathways across the Tilligerry Peninsula, which are ongoing.
"It's not often you see a facility like this. Generally only synthetic courts are built these days. A brand new hardcourt on the Tilligerry Peninsula will not only benefit locals but it will attract players from right across the Hunter," Port mayor Ryan Palmer said.
"Adults playing in the region will be looking for a hardcourt to train on and we have one of the few in the area. To develop juniors you need the same surface they're going to play on to train on."
The tennis club, which was one of three finalists in Tennis NSW's volunteer club of the year awards in October, is now working on an application to install a hitting wall at the courts in a further effort to create development opportunities.
Tilligerry Tennis Club has grown from 10 members in 2018 to 60 members in 2021.
The club offers social tennis on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and junior tennis (Hotshots) on Saturday mornings.
Juniors train with Foreshore Tennis coaches James Bellette and Kelly Wildon.
Wildon's young student Olivia McLoughlin from Lemon Tree Passage won her age group's singles girls championship in the Port Stephens interclub tournament, run by Foreshore Tennis, this year.
The 10-year-old said she has enjoyed learning to play on the new hardcourt, which is different to a synthetic surface.
"The ball is a lot faster," she said.
Foreshore Tennis is taking registrations for ages 6-17 beginning November 6. Get in touch at foreshoretennis.com.au.
Book a court at play.tennis.com.au/tilligerrytennisclub.
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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.
