Playford Council defends tennis centre as Evonne Goolagong Cawley hosts indigneous children

Playford Council has defended its $7.9 million tennis centre as tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley visits on a search for new indigenous talent.

Playford Council has rejected claims by disgruntled ratepayers that its $8.9 million tennis centre at Elizabeth East is a “white elephant”.

Speakers were critical of the complex at a recent council meeting where its proposed 3.9 per cent rate increase and 2018-19 budget was discussed.

Several told the meeting they had rarely seen anyone playing tennis on the centre’s 18 courts either during the weekdays or at weekends.

The tennis centre was built as part of the Playford Sports Precinct to replace ageing facilities at Elizabeth Vale, near the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley at the Playford Tennis Centre. Picture: Colin James

It has become the base for the Playford Tennis Club, formerly the Elizabeth Grove Tennis Club, and has the state’s largest social tennis competition with 180 players.

Playford mayor Glenn Docherty said council was “very comfortable” with the performance of the centre, which is privately managed.

“It has had ongoing increased usage since its opening and is recognised by Tennis Australia as the sport’s regional centre in northern Adelaide,” he said.

“It is believed the centre now has the largest Hot Shots junior coaching program in the state and this year will host the largest number of sanctioned tournaments in South Australia.”

Evonne Goolagong Cawley with northern Adelaide schoolchildren at the Playford Tennis Centre. Picture: Colin James

Mr Docherty said 13 northern schools were involved in coaching programs at the centre, with several schools running all students through a program as part of their physical education classes.

The centre employed 10 staff, mostly aged in their 20s, with a total of 520 members involved in programs run by its operators, Tennis Gear Management.

Mr Docherty said many people did not see the activity at the tennis centre when they drove past on Main North Rd as it was happening mostly at nights or weekends.

“The benefits of developing this facility are reflected by the centre hosting the largest social tennis competition and junior coaching program in the state, while the Playford Tennis Club is loving its new clubrooms, using it as a foundation on which to build its membership,” he said

Evonne on the hunt for talent

Australian tennis icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley is looking for the country’s next indigenous tennis champions.

The search has taken her to the $8.9 million Playford Tennis Centre at Elizabeth South, where dozens of northern primary school students took part in a “believe and achieve” day.

Mrs Goolagong Cawley, 68, has been nurturing indigenous tennis talent through a foundation she established with her husband, Roger, 16 years ago.

Children are supported with coaching and equipment on the condition they remain at school until they finish Year 12.

“So far we’ve had about 1000 kids across Australia come through and we’ve given out 68 scholarships,” she said.

“Seventeen are going to university at the moment and we’ve produced our first two lawyers and lawyers.

“We’ve also got an accountant who works for PricewaterhouseCoopers from Alice Springs.”

The multiple Wimbledon and Grand Slam champion said the Evonne Goolagong Foundation helped stage the country’s first indigenous tennis tournament in Darwin, while an indigenous team was soon going to an international competition in Hong Kong.

“It’s all about trying to close the gap for indigenous kids and I’m doing it through tennis,” Mrs Goolagong Cawley said.