Recruitment of a New Club Head Professional
With the time of Barry Toates role as our Head Professional coming to an end at 30 June this year, the Club has commenced the process to recruit a new Head Professional.
An Expression of Interest advertisement has been placed on the International Real Tennis Professionals Association website.
A change of Head Professional is always a major event in the life of the Club, so 2016 will be a significant year.
2016 Club Committee
The Club Office Holders for 2016 are John Moores (President), Chris Stirling (Vice President) David Mitchell (Secretary) and Brian Maxwell (Treasurer).
Other Committee Members are Graeme Bradfield, Hans Drielsma, Simon Dwyer, Michelle Moores, Alastair Ramsay and John Ramsay.
Michelle Moores is new to the Club Committee and Alastair Ramsay and John Ramsay are returning to the Committee having served in previous years. All other members are continuing previous service on the Committee.
Alastair Ramsay has assumed responsibility for tennis organisation, supported by Graeme Bradfield, in consultation with Barry Toates.
The Finance Committee is Brian Maxwell, Hans Drielsma and Alastair Ramsay.
Michelle Moores is convening the social activities group, supported by Chris Stirling and Dave Mitchell.
Committee Resignation
Regrettably for the Club, Brian Maxwell advised the Committee at its January meeting that he will be formally resigning in a few months’ time, as he and Maureen are returning to NSW for family reasons.
Brian has been a long serving member of the Committee, has been the tireless convenor and co-ordinator of Club maintenance activities for many years, a regular tennis player and he and Maureen are supporters of all Club social functions.
When Brian finally leaves us, he will sorely missed. The Committee and the Club wish Brian and Maureen an enjoyable retirement albeit it without a real tennis court.
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The Club continues to carry nearly $25,000 in amounts that are overdue by at least 60 days. This amount has not changed significantly over the last 12 months, despite several attempts to have the matters addressed with members. This represents over 10% of the Club annual gross revenue, and represents a significant component of the loan facility we have taken out to pay for the court renovations, and on which we are now paying interest.
The Committee has been concerned about this situation for some time. It is considered unfair to members who meet their financial obligations to the Club each month. The matter was further highlighted by our auditors in their management letter in relation to the audit of our accounts.
The Committee at its January 2016 meeting determined to apply Club Rule 30.
Rule 30 covers Accounts and Charges for Club Services. It is set out below in full. Members attention is drawn to Rule 30(3),(5),(6) & (7).
All members are requested to bring their accounts into 30 day credit within 14 days of receipt of the January 2016 account.
The Committee, has agreed that the Treasurer may exercise the powers available under Rule 30, and this will occur in February unless appropriate arrangements are made in accordance with the exceptional circumstances provisions in Rule 30.
Accounts and Charges for Club Services
30.(1) The amount of the annual subscription, entrance fee and charges for services provided by the Club may be fixed and altered from time to time by the Committee.
(2) The annual subscription and charges for services shall be due and payable in such manner and at such times as the Committee may from time to time determine.
(3) Members shall maintain their account balance with the Club in credit.
(4) A fine of 10% will be imposed on the outstanding balance for any account that is not in credit at the expiration of 30 days with a further 10% fine being imposed on any account not in credit at the expiration of 60 days.
(5) Any member of the Club whose account is not in credit at the expiration of 90 days shall have their right to credit suspended until their account returns to a 30 day credit balance.
(6) The Committee may, on application by the member who has not maintained a credit balance, and only in exceptional circumstances, defer suspension of credit, but only on the basis that an arrangement satisfactory to the executive committee for a return to a 30 day credit balance is entered into by the member.
(7) (a) The Treasurer may serve notice on any member who has been in arrears of payment of any monies due to the Club (whether for subscriptions or otherwise) for more than ninety days from the date payment of such monies fall due requiring payment of such arrears within fourteen days of the date of the notice. The notice shall state the amount of the arrears.
(b) If the member fails to comply with the notice the member shall have all membership rights suspended until the amount of the arrears referred to in the notice is paid.
(c) The Committee may, on application by the member in default, and in exceptional circumstances, defer such suspension but only on the basis that an arrangement satisfactory to the Committee for payment of such arrears is entered into by the member. [Rule 30 added 19.5.1999]
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Commonwealth Challenge Tennis
The Club ran its traditional Commonwealth Challenge tournament at the start of the year with matches being head between 2-8 January.
On the court were John Aldersley, Tony Barrett, Simon Berry, Lucie Bollerman-Douwes Dekker, Theo Bollerman, Ian Burrows, Bertie Cason, Sav Cremona, John Davis, Hans Drieslma, Paul Dunne, Graham Flower, Bruce Halliday, John Herbert, Harry Imber, Ray Lowenthal, John Moores, Michelle Moores, Biz Ritchard, and Felix Wagner.
There were several interstate and overseas visitors.
Sav Cremona is a regular visitor from the 'Club with no court' (Sydney) and sadly pulled a muscle in his leg and had to retire from the semi-final of the Handicap doubles and Final of the Open Singles.
Simon Berry is from England where his home court is Petworth, but Simon travels around the world to play. He was in Australia for the Boomerang Cup in Melbourne.
Lucie Bollerman-Douwes Dekker and Theo Bollerman are from Holland where there is no court at the moment. The Holland 'Club' has 100 members and they travel mostly to England to play. They also played in the Boomerang with daughter Saskia and son Paul as part of the team. Saskia and Paul teamed up to win the Handicap Doubles section of the Boomerang. Saskia has been working in the Pro shop at Melbourne and hopes to come to Hobart before returning to Holland.
John Aldersley lives in Sydney and England where his 'home' club is Radley, near Oxford.
Harry Imber is from Melbourne and has been a visitor for the Commonwealth Challenge over many years.
Scratch and handicap tournaments were played in a number of divisions.
The Open A Division was the best of 3 6 game sets played off scratch, To make the final, Sav Cremona had a 4/6, 6/2, 6/3 win over Graham Flower. But because Sav injured his leg and couldn’t play the result was a walkover win to John Herbert.
In the Open A Division Plate (one set, first to 9 games), Paul Dunne defeated Bert Cason 9/2.
In the Open B Division (best of 3, 4 game sets off scratch) John Davis defeated Bruce Halliday 4/1, 4/1. In the Open B Division Plate (one set, first to 9 games) John Moores defeated Ray Lowenthal 9/1.
The Commonwealth Challenge handicap singles attracted 18 players. In a one set, first to 9 games tournament, the semi finalists were Michelle Moores, John Davis, Paul Dunne and Iain Burrows. Michelle and Iain won through to the final, with Michelle winning a close match 9/8.
The handicap doubles final had an international flavour. Theo and Lucie Bollerman played Simon Berry and John Davis. The best of 3, 4 game sets match resulted in Berry and Davis winning 4/2, 4/1.
There was an excellent dinner in the Trophy Room with 23 people in total. Catering was by Karen Toates, Graeme Bradfield and Michelle Moores. A special thanks also to Charlie and Tori Toates and Kelsey for being an amazing serving and clean up crew.
Manchester Visit
Every second year when the Boomerang Cup is played in Melbourne, a team from the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club comes to Hobart for a social tennis match.
Most of the Manchester players have been to Hobart before and are always keen to try out new eating/drinking establishments in Hobart. They have a couple of hours practice on the Friday, dinner out and try to make it on time for the match on Saturday, which in deference to their likely condition, does not start until 10am.
The team of Tony Lawton, Richard MacAlister, Mel Harding, Mike Whitham, Terry Jones, and Brendan Hegarty with Irene Hegarty to cheer them on, put up a spirited performance leading the match 3/2 going in to lunch. A little alcohol at lunch and the chattels of the previous night were however their undoing in the afternoon as Hobart surged to a 5/3 victory.
The Hobart team included Nick Rooke, John Herbert, Graham Flower, John Davis, Hans Drielsma, Jeremy Rackham, Ron Booth, Becca Lunnon and Bertie Cason.
Dinner that night was brilliantly hosted by John and Sue Davis at their home with a superb spread supplied by various members. Plus a few bottles of fine wine! Manchester players were also kindly billeted by our own members.
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