TENNIS
By samuel darroch
FOLLOWING years of dedication to Traralgon Tennis Association, Susie Grumley was presented with a Tennis Victoria Tennis Service Award during the Frank Sedgman Cup in Traralgon earlier this month.
The TTA manager since 2007, and regional secretary of 10 years, said she was shocked to be honoured with the award when Tennis Victoria Board Awards director Anne Baldwin and vice president Maria Keys made the unexpected presentation.
“It was a very big surprise, I had no idea; I actually thought it was for Woofa (head coach Graham Charlton). I’m just surprised and very honoured to receive it,” she said.
“It is (nice to be appreciated), at the end of the day I just think I’m very lucky to be able to do something that I love doing.
“You just get so much reward from it, seeing the kids happy and taking the kids away to tournaments and bringing events here that the kids can participate in… and exposing them to good tennis.”
Grumley has been with the club since her junior playing days, and has since become a prominent identity in Gippsland tennis circles.
As an administrator she has been instrumental in organising night tennis for more than 200 people four evenings a week, coordinating junior tournaments, taking juniors to compete in regional events across Victoria, and hosting team events at the club.
Grumley has handled the logistics of the International Tennis Federation Loy Yang International grade one tournament for the past 20 years, and played a key role in hosting various pro circuit events.
“The ITF is definitely a highlight but just being able to help people with tennis (is great). Even just to put them into a night tennis team and see them enjoy the season, that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
The club stalwart also manages the staffing and canteen rosters for the association complex, function centre and venue.
TTA is set to host an APT Challenger event for the first time in October and Grumley was optimistic the club could attract more high profile events in future.
“It is exciting times and there’s hope for the future that we’ll be able to expand again. We’d love to put in a show court and be able to maybe hold a Davis Cup tie or a Fed Cup tie if we had all the proper facilities,” Grumley said.
“The more things we can bring down to Gippsland and Traralgon and expose them (our players) to bigger and better things the more opportunities they get then too, so that’s what I love about it all.”
TTA president Neville Pattle praised Grumley’s unwavering commitment to the club.
“She goes above a paid position so that’s probably one of the reasons why she was nominated for that award… that passion, her love for the club, the tennis and as a community minded person,” Pattle said.
“She has always taken a big interest in the club… the passion for the whole place to further the complex moving forward, further securing events and keeping all that (going) – it’s in her blood.”
He said Grumley was the driving force behind the club and a catalyst for much of its success throughout his tenure.
“She’s a humble person. I’m just the voicebox and microphone but the real work and behind the scenes, with a bit of consultation with me, is really done by her and her networking with various associations,” he said.
