Jellicoe Park Tennis Club is proud of its strong junior membership. And when you’re raising the tennis superstars of the future, safe and well-maintained facilities are a must.
That’s why the club undertook a major upgrade of its clubrooms last winter. The work included removing asbestos, replacing rotting stairs with new steel ones, recladding the building and giving it a fresh coat of paint.
“We did all of that because of safety,” says club treasurer and administrator Peggy Temu. “The old stairs were dangerous, and we had to get the asbestos out. Once the ceiling was painted, the rest of the clubroom looked a different colour, so our club president and a committee member painted it all. The roof hadn’t been replaced since the ’80s, and the outer cladding was deteriorating.”
The scale of the work meant no tennis was played over winter, but the outcome was worth it.
“It looks amazing and we’re really happy with the upgrades so far,” Peggy says.
The renovations are just one step in an ongoing effort to improve the club. Next up: resurfacing the last two courts in need of repair, finishing perimeter fencing, and upgrading the deck area.
Jellicoe Park Tennis Club has been going strong since 1932 and celebrated its 90th jubilee in 2022. A dedicated core group has served on the committee for more than 30 years, and membership is growing again after Covid.
“We really care about our club, our sport, our members and our wider community,” Peggy says.
The club offers competitive play for senior members and lessons for adult beginners. Junior players remain a strong focus, with generations of families involved.
“We’ve always had a strong junior membership. Now we have grandchildren of current and past members coaching at the club.”
To welcome new players, the club runs free community days in partnership with a local church and other groups, giving those new to tennis a chance to try the sport. It also finds sponsors to help local youth who want to play but can’t afford fees.
A major highlight for the juniors was a visit from American Grand Slam doubles winner Coco Gauff ahead of the 2023 ASB Classic. Gauff went on to win the tournament.
“Coco is our idol. She’s a very personable and inspirational young lady. We were so grateful she visited us and spent time with the kids,” says Peggy.
Funding from Trillian Trust made the clubroom renovations possible, and Wiri Licensing Trust provided a recommendation of support.
“Helping our local clubs create and maintain safe spaces is a top priority for our trustees,” says General Manager Kim Green. “It’s also important to support groups that increase youth engagement in sport and keep the costs down for families.”
Peggy says Wiri Licensing Trust has backed the club over many years.
“Without their help, Jellicoe Park Tennis and other local clubs would struggle. It would take us years to save the money needed for upgrades like this. Any capital project is costly, and the amounts can seem unachievable.”
One of the club’s first grants through the Trust funded uniforms for players.
“This gave our players confidence and a sense of identity. It meant every player had the right tennis attire to compete in. Those tops were worn for years.”
Keeping tennis affordable is a key goal, Peggy says, and funding helps keep fees down.
“We’re very grateful. The renovations have made a huge difference, and visitors from other clubs have been really impressed with the changes.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations doing great work in our neighbourhood. To find out how we can support you, email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
