Rossendale Tennis Club secretary speaks out over thefts

A 90-year-old tennis club has revealed just how low thieves have gone and why a dedicated team of volunteers is determined to “survive this blow”.

Rossendale Tennis Club have vowed to fight on despite the thefts.

A community tennis club surviving on government grants has been left devastated after a series of thefts stripped them of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment.

Rossendale Tennis Club, situated in the town of Bauple, 37 km south of Maryborough and has been the home of tennis in the area for almost 90 years.

The club has survived for nearly a century thanks to the tireless work of volunteers and this dedication continues with the club’s 20 members led by Secretary Mary-Ann Walters.

Mrs Walters’ involvement with the club stretches back to the 1990s and she remained involved to this day “because I want to be able to give the residents a place to enjoy community sport.”

Rossendale Tennis Club members in happier times.

The thefts are believed to have occurred between February 9 and 23 of last month when the courts were not being used due to heavy rains which struck the region.

“They took almost everything this time and left our members feeling devastated and angry,” Mrs Walters said.

Items taken by the “mongrels” as Mrs Walters called them on a Facebook post, include a $6000 ride-on mower, ball machine, a high-pressure washer and a ladder.

“They even took our rake,” she said in disbelief.

Mary-Anne Walters with Rossendale Tennis volunteers. The gazebo in this picture has since been stolen.

“Most of the items stolen were purchased with grants and were used to help volunteers maintain the facility for the public.”

It is not the first time the club has been robbed with the first theft occurring in March, 2021.

“It took us over two years to recover from it, and that was only possible due to fundraising and grants,” Mrs Walters said.

The club is now preparing to implement extra security measures such as storing equipment off-site.

Mrs Walters said, “these low-life scum need to be caught, they are targeting community organisations because they know they are vulnerable.”

“I am so sick of giving these thieves our stuff,” she said, adding it would be “so much better for the community once they are caught”.

The club wants to install a security camera at its facility but is unable to afford the $60 per month in Wi-Fi fees.

The tennis club has reached out to Division 2 councillor Phil Truscott for assistance but with the council currently in caretaker mode as it prepares for the March 16 local government elections, both Mr Truscott and the council are restricted in how they can assist.

Despite the dire circumstances, Mrs Walters has pledged to keep fighting and is thankful for the support of the Bauple community.

“The town is feeling for us at the moment”.

To those who wish to help the club “survive this blow” can “join our club, hire our courts and buy raffle tickets and drinks.”

“Any support is appreciated.”

A Queensland Police spokesman said “authorities are investigating after the report of a break-in at a Bauple Woolooga Road business that occurred between Friday, February 9 and Friday, February 23.