Half a century of camaraderie and competition

Players from the Dalby Ladies Midweek Tennis shared memories on the court.

REUNITED: Glenys Brewer 93, Mavis Burns 96 and Kath Keleher 94 cut the cake at the Dalby Ladies Midweek Tennis reunion. Picture: Janet Hutchinson

TENNIS: Close to 100 women gathered at the Dalby Tennis Club on Wednesday, October 31, as part of a reunion organised by a small committee.

Mary Robison and Janet Hutchinson decided to organise a reunion for those who, like themselves, were participants of Dalby Ladies Midweek Tennis prior to the year 2000.

They formed a small committee and began to track down players from as early as the 1950s.

"We had a few old score books, records, and our memories to go by,” said Ms Hutchinson. "We tried so hard to contact as many players as possible and sincerely apologise to anyone we missed.”

Committee member Joan Hohnke said midweek tennis was an important part of the week to the participants in those days.

Up to 25 teams of five players turned up every Wednesday ready for a battle on the courts.

"Nothing short of a catastrophe would stop us from turning up. Rain may have stopped play at times but we played on 40°C days and played with those cold westerly winds blowing around our ears”.

Many players who had lived in Dalby during their lives had since relocated, with players travelling from Hervey Bay, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba to attend the reunion.

Dalby and District Tennis Association president Steve Forbes welcomed the visitors and opened the celebrations.

Former player and attendee of the reunion, Molly Smith, baked a cake for the occasion, which the three eldest former players cut.

Committee member Colleen Cook said many close and long-standing friendships were formed during Midweek Tennis.

"Those years were such a special time in our lives, which was obvious by the turnout,” she said.

"Many have asked when the next reunion will be.”

The reunion donated $400 to the Dalby Tennis Association from funds raised on the day.