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FROM THE BEGINNING.....

0FFICIALLY formed in 1937, but actually the first moves to establish Moolap Tennis Club came long before, in 1923. In fact, the then headmaster of Moolap Primary, a Mr S.R. Lugg campaigned to have a tennis court constructed and five years later it was, funded by monies raised from school sports and a grant on a pound for pound basis by the then government.

The court was used for school tennis and adult social games, mainly at weekends.In 1937, Moolap Tennis Club was officially formed. Mr J. Ball was elected the first president, with Miss C. Irwin the secretary/treasurer. Others on that first committee were Miss K. Larkins, Miss V. Jackson, Messrs. J. Jinks, J. Plummer, L. Dendle, H. Wiggs and K. Clarke. Social matches were played against other clubs in the general locality. Then there were the war years. During some of this time no records were kept of club activity, but in April 1941 a full committee was elected and an opening day was held, although  generally speaking, things were pretty much in recession in these days of the early'40s. At war's end, local residents interested in the club cleaned up the surrounds and repaired the court and play re-commenced in  earnest with social and school sporting functions continuing into the early '50s. 1951 was a major year in the club's progress. With the new committee of Mr M. Mason as president, Miss P. Clarke, secretary and Mr C.  Richards, treasurer, a constitution was drafted on which the club functioned for many years. A growing membership was busy raising funds to help boost the club's coffers with raffles and an organised dance, held at Leopold Hall.This self-help attitude has been a part of Moolap Tennis Club's tradition ever since.

In 1953, our first pennant team played in the Bellarine Tennis Association. It was all go with very keen players and practice nights set aside for the team members. Mr E. Errey was  awarded the club's first life membership in 1954 for his role in holding the club together in these early formative years. In 1957 we fielded two teams. It was obvious that soon another court would be needed. Local identity Mr B. Boyce offered the club land to build new courts and the Bellarine Shire offered assistance, but still it was up to the club to pay for the construction. More fund raising. Our first junior team was entered in 1959 and we won the pennant!

OUR FIRST PENNANT

The first senior premiership came in 1962/63 in "B" grade. Membership was growing with the club now regularly fielding senior and junior teams. With the construction of the new Moolap Primary School on its present site, the Shire was approached by a group called Moolap Improvement Committee asking that the old school site be purchased for a recreation reserve. This was done and in  1966, Moolap Tennis Club had a permanent home.Membership growth continued and it was apparent that another court was needed. Once again the Bellarine Shire was approached for assistance.Councillor J. Davies from the Shire, worked hard on the club's behalf to achieve this new goal and with the Improvement Committee members, the court was completed at a cost of $600 to the tennis club. Cr. Davies officially opened the new court  in 1966.

MIDWEEK LADIES

1971 saw the beginning of our midweek ladies competition, where we entered a team in the Coast Association.Midweek competition has been a thriving section of the club over the years,  as the many photos on the clubhouse walls can attest to. Prominent people in the continuing growth of midweek ladies were, and still are, Judy Clarke, Evelyn Collins and Barbara Lee. By 1971, membership had  increased to such a level that courts needed to be hired to cater for our six senior teams. The courts hired were from Shenton Methodist Church in East Geelong. The Shire were again approached for possible help to construct two more courts, but times were getting tougher and they were unable to assist. Our social committee was re-formed to help boost club funds, with plans being put together to build a new clubhouse with barbecues, car trials, raffles, cabarets and the annual dance at Leopold. The old school building became our official clubhouse. Working bees saw to painting and cleaning; curtains were made. There's that self-help spirit of Moolap again!Two major club awards were introduced in 1973 - the President's Cup, presented at the discretion of the president to the club member whose service to the club's cause has been exemplary. There  was a junior award established at this time, the Keith McKiernan Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the season's most improved junior player in summer pennant.

SOME NEW COURTS

Also in 1973, the Bellarine Shire finally gave the go-ahead for the construction of four new courts - the old ones to be demolished and the new courts laid in line. The job was completed in March 1974 and an official ,,opening" took place in September. During this period of construction, Moolap Tennis Club hired courts at East Geelong Technical School and Shenton. From 1974 to 1980 many innovations and improvements were made at the club including the introduction of a ladies committee to run the midweek competition (1975); also in 1975, club badges and honour boards were introduced. Men's and ladies' singles championships were held for the first time in 1976.Renovations to the kitchen area were carried out by club members in 1977/78 and the club constitution was reviewed and updated. The articles were published and circulated to members. In 1979 a challenge match was organised against Newcomb. This annual "challenge" ran on and off for a number of years. In recent times it has effectively been replaced  by the Glenda Sharp Memorial Tournament. Membership application forms and a even a joining fee were also introduced. This joining fee was later dropped. Discussions began with the Shire on the possibility of more courts and new clubrooms to meet the ever-increasing demand. And during 1979/80 the club successfully negotiated with the Shire to install court lighting on what is now courts three and four. This was done at a cost to the club of over $4000 - and a lot of that famous Moolap self-help! In 1980 the club fielded 15 senior mixed teams, nine ladies.

A NEW CLUBHOUSE

With continued growth in numbers, the club needed to cater for this membership. The committee held discussions with Shire officials with a view to purchase the former school principal's residence, then disused, as the new clubhouse. Also on the agenda with the Shire was our request for two new courts. Money was tight in local government and it took until 1983 before everything was brought to a successful conclusion with the old school hall being relocated and given to the scouting group and our new courts being constructed. An immense amount of work went into this project, with many people  giving much of their time, effort and expertise. It stands as perhaps the finest example of our members' contribution. In 1984, another junior trophy was introduced and donated by Mrs E. Collins, a trophy to  encourage sportsmanship, court demeanour as well as improved ability. This is presented in the winter season.  That same year the club obtained a liquor consumer's licence. This enhanced the club's social scene, although there were some problems until rules and regulations became properly established. Even then, there was talk of the club gaining a full licence, with the obvious advantage of raising more funds for  various projects and also to be more financially stable.

INCORPORATION

On March 26th, 1985, the club became an incorporated institution, to be known thereafter as Moolap Tennis Club Incorporated. This gave the club's administration greater scope and  legal protection for the office bearers.

MOVE ON LIQUOR LICENCE

The push to obtain a liquor licence was gaining momentum and in 1987, life member Mr D. McKiernan made the motion at a general meeting "to pursue the attainment of a liquor licence". A committee was formed to this end, although, as usual, many others outside this committee pitched in to help. Paperwork, plans, meetings with the Bellarine Council and the Liquor Control Commission followed, not to mention liaising with tradesmen and others involved in the project.

SAD LOSS OF TWO KEY MEMBERS
The tragic death of life member, Glenda Sharp, in November 1989 was a great blow to the membership. Glenda's memory is assured at Moolap Tennis  Club, as the main honour board is dedicated to her memory, not to mention another honour board  in her name, for tennis excellence, awarded each year and even an annual tennis tournament, too. Disaster struck again less than a year later, when former club president Joe Maring died in a road accident. Only 26 years old, Joe's loss was also very deeply felt amone, the membership. A President's Cup winner, Joe was one of  the main instigators in the club's drive to gain a full liquor licence and without his invaluable help, it may never have got off the ground. This was certainly a dark period for the club.

CLUB HIT BY FINANCIAL CRISIS

In 1990 the club faced its greatest financial crisis. The collapse of the Pyramid group saw the club's funds, of several thousand dollars, frozen. The club did eventually recoup a  good proportion of the funds, but it was certainly a major concern as the bills still kept coming in. Club president Mr B. Lawson and treasurer Mr R. Smith did much to help keep M.T.C. going during this difficult time.

LIQUOR LICENCE GRANTED

Trying to fulfil the conditions to gain a liquor licence was one of the most ambitious projects the club had ever undertaken; major renovations to the clubrooms needed to be made to adhere to Council, Liquor Control Commission and Health Department regulations, but when the dust settled (and it took years!) our licence was finally granted on October 28th, 1994. So many people assisted on this project that they simply could not all be named. Suffice to say it was a big team effort Here we are in 1997 and the club is still continuing to thrive, with 12 senior pennant teams and a strong midweek and junior contingent. One of our latest initiatives has been to establish our very own club logo, embroidered on shirts, windcheaters and caps. Just another idea followed through by our hard-working committee, always eager to  keep on improving Moolapians lot. Moolap Tennis Club Incorporated owes its existence to so many people over the years, not just those on honour boards, but the many club members, friends and supporters who have helped the club to get to this point in their history - the 60th anniversary. Thanks be to them all.

* Information for this article was gathered largely from the booklet "Moolap Tennis Club Golden Jubilee, 1937-1987, which was edited by Moolap Tennis Club life member, Shirley McKenzie

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