MYRTLEFORD Lawn Tennis Club's 35th Easter Tournament (senior and junior) has been judged the Most Outstanding Tournament in Victoria.
The prestigious honour was announced at the 2025 Victorian Community Tennis Awards held on Thursday, 22 May at the iconic Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, bringing together passionate members of the Victorian tennis community to celebrate another remarkable year of achievements both on and off the court.
Tennis Victoria CEO, Kim Kachel, said the awards are a powerful reminder of the passion and dedication that drive the sport at the grassroots level, with the volunteers honoured making incredible contributions to help the sport thrive, and have a meaningful impact in their local communities.
Myrtleford Lawn Tennis Club president Peter Ternes said winning the state award was a tremendous honour and recognised the collective efforts of all the club's 120 or so members.
"We're only a small club, but every one of our members contributes to the successful running of the Easter tournament, helping either before, during or after the event, and this award belongs to all of them," he said.
"This is a great reward for 35 years of coming up with the best model of tournament we can...our country hospitality and friendliness, tennis tournament format and the great conditions of our courts are appreciated."
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Ternes dedicated the win in honour of Fred Baldori, "a wonderful club member and long time tournament committee person" who passed away in late April after a battle with cancer.
"He was our go-to man and is sorely missed by us all," he said.
Mr Ternes also paid special tribute to his wife Robyn who organises the junior tournament, Alan and Kaye Heberle who have been involved with the tournament since it started, long serving treasurer Marcus James, longtime catering guru Anne Browne and tournament committee member Kevin Mock, as well as all the women of the club who "contribute so much".
He said when the tournament was restarted in 1990, after a 25 year hiatus, it was the first in the state to offer round robin doubles and mixed for senior grades and full round robin for juniors in singles, doubles and mixed - a recipe which has served the club well and brings players back year after year.
"We had 200 senior and 50 junior entries in the first year and made $400, and have grown to the extent that this year's Easter tournament saw the 476 senior entries (319 players) booked out within 70 minutes, and 126 junior entries (96 players) booked in several days, with 100 players on the waiting list," Mr Ternes said.
The tournament not only helps keep the club alive financially, but the influx of players and supporters over an extended period generates significant income into the local economy...and has generated ongoing tourism to the region.
"We already have a group of up to 50 from Anglesea who have hired out the courts for four days in 2027 where they'll stay at the adjoining caravan park and play tennis, visit the wineries and bike ride, among other things," Mr Ternes said.
"I'd like to thank our community for their words of support...we've had about 200 comments on Facebook congratulating the club on the win."
Mr Ternes said the trophy will find a special home in the clubhouse, but is unlikely to do a tour of members' residences "as we may not get it back".
