Voyager Tennis Club member John Grass found to be victimised after complaints of discrimination

A Sydney tennis club has been rocked by allegations of discrimination after a member claimed he was “victimised” for complaining that older tennis players were being excluded from games because of their age.

The tennis club has been hit with allegations of discrimination.

A northern Sydney tennis club has been rocked by allegations of discrimination after a long term member claimed he was “victimised” after complaining that older tennis players were being excluded from games because of their age.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal has settled a long-running dispute centred on social tennis games attended by a group of mostly retirees at the Voyager Tennis Club in Meadowbank.

The case was taken to the tribunal by social member John Grass who alleged “older and less able” players had been excluded for games and that he had been “victimised” for taking his allegations to the tribunal.

Mr Grass, a regular tennis player with the social group for more than 25 years, claimed he attempted to play with the social group from September 2021 onwards but was “stopped from doing so” by two club members, Leonard McIntosh, an organiser of the social group at the time, and the Edi Leong, a fellow member.

The tribunal, handing down its findings into the long-running dispute, found Mr Grass was victimised by Mr McIntosh and Mr Leong and has ordered both men not to repeat the conduct.

A photo of the tennis club.

The tribunal heard the fraught history among the club members included claims Mr Grass was excluded from games by not being provided access codes to enter the courts and was not allowed to put his signature on sign-on sheets.

On one occasion, Mr Leong said to Mr Grass words to the effect of: ‘We do not want you here. Just piss off’, undisputed evidence in the tribunal heard.

Both Mr McIntosh and Mr Leong, in submissions to the tribunal, outlined the “difficulties” started when Mr Grass accused members of the social group from excluding others based on their age or ability.

Both men submitted that “all they wanted to do was to have a relaxing game of tennis” and that they excluded Mr Grass because they did not want him raising his complaints.

Both Mr McIntosh and Mr Leong denied persons were excluded from social games based on their age or ability level.

The tribunal – in its decision – found Mr Grass had been excluded from the social group because of complaints he made under the Anti-Discrimination Act.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the allegation about the exclusion of older and less able members was false and not made in good faith,” the tribunal states.

“Persons who make allegations under (the Anti-Discrimination Act) should not be victimised, even if the person does not agree with the allegation or support it personally.”

The tribunal ordered Mr McIntosh and Mr Leong to “not continue or repeat their victimisation of Mr Grass”.

Mr McIntosh was also ordered to post a copy of this tribunal’s decision next to the sign in sheet for two games.

Mr Grass – speaking after the decision – told The Daily Telegraph he intends to continue playing social games at the site.

“I was brought up to believe that if you don't fight your rights, you lose them,” he said.

“It’s a public facility and no one should have authority to tell people what to do – that’s un-Australian.

“I don’t hold grudges and I want to continue playing at the club.”

A spokesman for Voyager Tennis said the club was aware of the matter and had previously “spoken with all members involved in an attempt to resolve the dispute”.

The spokesman said the club was also open to all community members, regardless of their age group or ability level.

The Daily Telegraph understands that since the tribunal’s decision, the social games – which were previously held twice-weekly at the club – are no longer being booked at the site.