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A Brief History of the Wanaka Tennis Club
The first recorded tennis courts in the Upper Clutha Valley were laid down by R.M. (Charles) Turnbull of Wanaka Station in the 1890s. Turnbull was the first President of the Pembroke Tennis Club which was established in 1908.
At the beginning of the 20th century various other tennis courts/clubs were also in existence, including the Luggate T.C. (1909), the Mt. Barker T.C. (Maxwell Rd.), and the Hawea and Tarras Tennis Clubs.
In August 1910 the Club leased (for an annual rental of 5 shillings) a portion “not exceeding 0.5 acres” of the Library Reserve (now a car park off Brownston St.) and engaged a contractor to lay down a “plant mix“ surface (i.e. asphalt).
By 1927 maintenance costs at this site were catching up with the club, and in October of that year the Library asked the club to “demolish and remove the whole court” but it was allowed to take the net. After making fruitless appeals to the public for help the club moved, in February 1930, to use the 2 concrete courts laid down as a public facility by the Domain Board at the Showgrounds. These were subsequently resurfaced with asphalt by club members. Moves were then made to have a water supply and conveniences put on (provided the Cricket and Football Clubs also contributed). A.H. (Sandy) Elmslie was President at the time and it is of some interest to note now that his name has been given to the Retirement Village adjacent to the new courts off Warren Street.
In September 1930 the club agreed to join the Vincent Tennis Association, and regular home/away matches were played with Clubs from as far afield as Alexandra and Fruitlands. Considerable travel and time was clearly involved.
In July 1931 it was agreed to confer with the County Engineer regarding use of metal from the old court (i.e. that off Brownston St.) in road repair and to re-sow it in grass (subsequently to be known as the “library cow paddock“). By October an agreement was reached with the Domain Board to lease the 2 asphalt courts at the Showground and Opening Day was held on Labour Day 1931 with a Yankee Doubles Tournament followed by a dance, to which surrounding Clubs (Hawea, Tarras, Cromwell, Lowburn, Clyde, Alexandra) were invited; 45 dozen mixed cakes and sandwiches were provided and the local orchestra employed (at 1 pound/player).
By 1933 the club had clearly become The Wanaka Tennis Club (but it may well have been that all along although Pembroke only officially became Wanaka in 1940).
In 1934 it was agreed to build a pavilion adjacent to the tennis courts and to make it available to the A. and P. Society. This building still stands and was subsequently used by the Pottery Group. Prominent players of the time included Bill (W.) Bovett, Tom Anderson, George Morris, Cecil Collings, George Valentine, Wallace Maxwell, and later Arthur Scaife (now a resident of Elmslie House). Prior to World War 2 the men’s team in the Vincent Competitions comprised George Morris, Reg Waldron, Cliff Wilson and Arthur Scaife.
During the war years (1939-45) the club kept going in a limited way, but was still involved in the Vincent Competitions. An annual New Year's Day Tournament, which included Camping Ground and other visitors to Wanaka, was a regular event over these, and subsequent, years. Two present-day members who remember taking part are Molly Purvis and Rod McNaughton. Molly remembers winning the Ladies Doubles with Margaret Borland on New Year's Day 1941 when both were school girls aged 14 years. A Mr. Brinsley, then President of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association, gave them 10 shillings “which was then spent on lollies down the street”. Remarkably a 50-years-on sequel took place in 1991 when their respective granddaughters won the corresponding Junior event on the Aspiring College courts. Rod’s involvement was some 4 years later whilst a 11-12 year old school boy at Waitaki Boys High School and staying at the Camping Ground.
In 1945 it was agreed to build a volley board, but this was never done and the timber was re-sold in 1954.
1963-8. Discussions were held on the advisability of (again) re-surfacing the present courts (it had been a continual problem), of approaching the Domain Board for additional land for 2 or 3 new courts, or to look elsewhere. By 1967 it was agreed to look elsewhere, and a year later it was decided to approach the Wanaka District High School in Warren St. It is clear that by that time the school already had tennis courts as coaching at the school was being carried out by P. McGrath.
1968-72. A low period for the club, but attempts were still being made to have new Club courts built on Education Board land at the school. In October 1969 it was agreed to approach the Wanaka Jaycees for funds to build concrete courts, and by 1970 quotes for 2 courts plus nets had been obtained. However, the School courts were clearly proving adequate, and in October 1972 a written agreement was reached provided that “if the Education Board decided it was necessary to require the land then the Tennis Club would be reimbursed at the rate of 5% depreciation per year”. Clearly the club had made, or intended to make, a financial contribution. By that time the nearby Presbyterian Hall was being used for club days and afternoon teas. etc.
1974. It was decided to build a split-block volley board adjacent to the courts provided the Education Board agreed. This was done and the wall proved to be a great asset to the community generally. It was finally demolished in 1997 to make way for the ABC Centre.
1972-82. Subscriptions gradually increased from $3 (seniors), $1.50 (juniors), to $20 and $10 respectively over the decade. The emphasis was on interclub competitions with A and B teams being regularly involved in the Vincent competitions, with notable successes. The Vincent Association’s Annual Cabaret was hosted by the club in 1979, and in the same year it was agreed to raise some $500 “for new tennis courts“; so this was still an issue within the club.
1982-4. Interest began to wane and no teams were entered in the Vincent competitions; subscription were lowered to $10, and $5 respectively. It is of some interest today that in 1983 the club received a brochure on Astrograss tennis surfaces, but it was given only a cursory glance “as it is of no interest to our club”.
1986-7. The arrival of Lynn Cowie in 1986 saw a rapid revitalisation within the club, with a highly successful Opening Day, and Junior coaching by Gordon McEachran from Dunedin. Use was made for the first time of the new facilities at Mount Aspiring College (4 asphalt courts) including the Netball Club’s “shed”. New nets were purchased for the Primary School, and the Scoular Cup was won for the first time by the senior team. Various Club Days and intra-club events were held to raise funds, and a New Year Open Tennis Tournament was held for the first time on 4th January 1987 on the School and Pines Resort courts (in conjunction with the Otago Tennis Association and Gordon McEachran). This tournament proved a great success, becoming an annual event over the first weekend in January for the next 6 years (1987-94; up to 100 entries were often achieved). It was then held on courts all over Wanaka including the College courts, the new Plexipave ones at Edgewater, and various private courts in and around Wanaka; it was widely supported by both country and Dunedin players, and received good sponsorship.
1987-95. This period saw a gradual move to the asphalt courts at Aspiring College (for an annual fee of $50 plus $1/player) although the School courts were still being used for tournaments and junior coaching. Senior and Senior Reserve teams were involved in the Vincent Competitions and mid-week social tennis was flourishing. Junior teams also took part in Central Otago competitions with coaching being provided by John Muir, Roger Gardner, Daphne Ledgerwood and other parents, with Pam McRae arranging visits from Dunedin by Gordon McEachran, Peter Drew, Mark Flannery and later Neil Carter. By 1995 subscriptions had risen to $35 (seniors) plus $5/week for competition players, and $20/team for those in the club Social Competition. Lynn Cowie’s President's Report of 28th September 1994 notes that “I am keen to put priority on getting our own courts over the next few years as I feel they are essential to Wanaka’s growth in tennis”. This was perhaps a timely omen of things to come.
1995-8. These years saw a steady decline in numbers with two, one, and then no teams entered in Central Otago competitions, and the demise of the Wanaka Open Tournament. The departure of Lynn Cowie (in 1996) clearly contributed to this. Junior numbers also fell away with no regular coaching. A “Social” competition on a week night was introduced but numbers varied, and club tennis on a Saturday afternoon at the College was increasingly poorly attended. The club adopted a Constitution and became a Incorporated Society in November 1997.
1998-2000. In 1998 David Buckingham took over coaching at the Primary School and College with junior numbers building to some 70 by the year 2000 and 6 teams being entered in the Central Otago Junior Competitions. Lynette Winslow assisted, and arranged parental transport and organised teams and tournaments both for the Club and for Central Otago. Cups were reinstated for The Most Promising Primary and Junior Boy and Girl and Membership of the Club (or a Subscription) was not necessarily enforced. The AGM of 14th December 1998 saw agreement to build the club’s own courts (in 3 stages) on the Recreation Reserve in Warren St. Neville Teat was put in charge of court development, and by September 1999 a Lease Agreement with the Queenstown Lakes District Council had been formalised. Fund raising was well underway (1998-2000) with a major effort being “Lottery 2000” with $100 tickets and weekly draws over 40 weeks; a major prize was a flight in the Mustang fighter. Work on Stage 1 (2 Astrograss courts) began on February 10th 2000 with the grand Opening being on April Fool's Day, celebrated by a fancy dress Buffet Breakfast/Auction at which Onny Parun officiated; some $11,000 was raised (for Stage 2). For the 1998-9 Season subscriptions were set at $30 for Competition players, $20 (Veterans), $15 (juniors) rising to $60 (Seniors), $30 (Juniors) for the 2000-1 Season. Paid-up Membership grew from about 25 (1995) to 43 (1998), 109 (2000).
2000-3. The acquisition of 25 Life Members, and the injection of other funds from internal and external sources, saw a quote for a new purpose-built pavilion and plans for 3 additional courts being achieved by October 2000. However another possibility for the pavilion had arisen, and in November 2000 it was agreed to purchase from Dunedin Electricity two buildings in Alexandra belonging to Delta Utilities. These were transported to Wanaka, and installed by club members in March 2001. Additions and alterations were made, including the installation of 1.7km of hardwood decking, but it was always felt that further amenities would be required in future years. Preparation and asphalting of the additional courts (Stage 3) was completed by November 2001, and Astrograss laid on courts 3 and 4 in March 2002; the 5th court had its hard-court Synpave surface applied in December 2002. Construction of a two-sided Volley Board on Council land adjacent to the new courts was undertaken during 2002, and was completed by March 2003. In November 2000 Pam McRae donated “The George Morris Memorial Millennium Trophy” (in memory of her late uncle who was a prominent member of the club in the 1930s) for a Closing Day Mixed Doubles Competition, and in 2001 the club’s Constitution was altered to allow for non-Member use of the courts and pavilion, for which a small fee is charged. The Wanaka Open Tennis Tournament was reinstated in January 2003 with 86 entries, including 3 overseas players. Involvement in the Central Otago Competitions continued throughout this period with both the Scoular (Senior) and Grape (Veteran) Cups being won in 2001, and increasing numbers of Juniors being involved in Saturday morning competitions. Dave Buckingham continued coaching at the Primary School and College until Christmas 2000, and in 2001 at the new courts with the help of James McGavin. James continued with an advanced class during the winter of 2001, and was subsequently appointed the club’s official coach. Junior numbers continued to rise during this period reaching 140 by the end of 2002; by that time a toddler program at the ABC Centre had begun (3-5 year olds). A mid-week (Wednesdays) Doubles Competition was instigated in 2001, and this has proved to be very popular. And Social Tennis on Monday and Friday mornings throughout the year has catered for visitors to Wanaka as well as club members. At the time of writing, plans for extending the pavilion to include changing rooms, additional toilets, showers, extra storage space for equipment and furniture, and an enlarged kitchen/bar area are being processed.
By August 2000 Club Membership and Subscriptions stood at 109 (42 juniors), $60 ($30); increasing progressively to 193 (32),$75 ($30) by August 2001; 256 (75),$100 ($30) by August 2002; and 321 (161) at the time of writing (May 2003).
Representative Honours. Although many Members have represented Vincent/Central Otago as part of regional teams, or have won regional titles, only Lynn Cowie has gone on to higher honours whilst a Member of the Club. She won the Otago Ladies Singles title in 1987/8, and was a Member of the Southern Districts team in 1988/9; she managed that team in 1990.
Presidents of the Wanaka Tennis Club. A.H.Elmslie (?-1933); R.Scott (1933-40); W.J.Milligan (1944-47); L.M.Farrant (1947-49); D.McLeod (1949-51); W.Rickaby (1951-54); T.Faulks (1954-58); P.Waldron (1958-59); M.Crossan (1959-60); W.King (1960-62); N.Pittaway (1962-66); R.Kane (1966-68); D.Jaquiery (1968-69); C.Kane (1969-72); K.King (1972-73); A.McCaw (1973-74); J.Collins (1974-75); R.Hawke (1975-78); A.Hamilton (1978-79); R.Arthur (1979-81); R.Hulsbosch (1981-82); J.Clark (1982-84); D. Mackay (1984-85); A.Dyet (1985-86); L.Cowie (1986-90); D.Ledgerwood (1990-92); L.Cowie (1992-95); N.Allum(1995-98); D.A.Buckingham (1998-2001); N.Teat (2001-02); K.Baldwin (2002-03).
Acknowledgments. The following Wanaka residents assisted in preparing this document: Eva Harris, Mrs. J.C. Aspinall, Norman Pittaway, Arthur Scaife, David Jaquiery, Margaret Trimble, Bill King and Stan Kane. Irvine Roxburgh’s books “Wanaka Story’’(1957) and “Wanaka and Surrounding Districts” (1990) were consulted, as were Minute Books of the Pembroke/Wanaka(1930-1995) and Mt. Barker Tennis Clubs (now held in the archives of the Wanaka Library), and the Wanaka Library Committee.