Tasmanian tennis has a new Hall of Fame member - a former homeless teenager who rose to conquer the court
From homeless to hall of fame - the Tassie veteran whose career was inspired by an Australian grand slam legend.
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He’s gone from orphan to homeless to hall of fame and through most of his life Jon Aufder-Heide credits tennis for getting him through.
The 74-year-old ace from Hobart lives and breathes the game.
That’s why induction his into the Tasmanian Tennis Hall of Fame at its gala ceremony on Devonport last month meant the world.
“It’s a bit of a shock really,” Jon said.
“To join the likes of Richard Fromberg and the others in the hall of fame is amazing.
“It’s something I’m still coming to terms with.
“It was a great honour, you can’t get any better than that.
“It’s the pinnacle of my tennis career and I’m nearly 75 so it’s great, I’m very happy to get it.”
Jon’s trophy cabinet is bursting with reminders of his success over the decades as an ITF men’s singles and doubles player. He boasts a career-high world ranking of 213.
His career started when he was 12 when his dad took him for casual a hit at Cosgrove High.
“I lost my first match at Creek Road in 1963 to Nigel Ricketts, an ex-Sandy Bay footballer, and I threw my racquet,” he said.
“My father took it off me for three months and that made me bloody hungry after that, and since then it has been all go.”
Unfortunately, he was orphaned as a teenager and had to fend for himself.
“My father died a year after I started tennis and my mother died when I was 17,” he said.
“After that basically I was on my own and had to find somewhere to live.
“Luckily, one of the tennis families, the McGowans at Taroona, took me in and gave me somewhere to live until I could get a job and support myself.
“In 1968 I started work at the police department as a junior clerk in the accounts section, sweeping the floor and running down to the bank and all that sort of thing.”
Through it all, tennis has been his rock.
“I love it,” he said.
“Every game you play is different.
“You meet different people and different opponents and play with different partners over the years.
“I love the competitiveness, and what my father did taking the racquet off me made me very competitive.
“I hate to lose and that makes you learn how to play better and win.”
Jon modeled game on Australian grand slam legend Lou Hoad, winner of Wimbledon, the French and the Australian Opens.
“He played at Creek Road when I was a ball boy in 1964, and I got to meet him,” Jon said.
“He had a backhand slice that I liked and he attacked the net a lot, so when I saw him play it inspired me and that’s the way I’ve always played.”
TASMANIAN TENNIS HALL OF FAME
Inductees 2024
Coach Excellence (Club)Philippa Martin
Coach Excellence (Development/Performance)Jason Fletcher
Most Outstanding Club/VenueDomain Tennis Centre
Most Outstanding Female Junior AthleteAlicia Dale
Most Outstanding Male Junior AthleteGeorge Anderson
Excellence in OfficiatingLouise Widdowson
Most Outstanding EventClarence Open
Most Outstanding Athlete with a DisabilityRoss Patterson
Most Outstanding SchoolSassafras Primary School
Inclusion Initiative AwardHobart Out Tennis Club – Pride Events
Volunteer Achievement AwardSharon Hibberd
Most Outstanding 30+ SeniorStephen Dance
Hall of Fame InducteeJon Aufder-Heide
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