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INTERNATIONAL TENNIS CLUB OF AUSTRALIA (IC AUSTRALIA) 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW IC 2019 Year in Review Page 1 CONTENTS Supplementing the ICA 2019 Annual Report, enjoy these further details about our year! *Beyond the Tour launch *IC Hopman Cup breakfast *Kooyong Tennis and lunch *IC AGM *IC Annual Lunch *Sydney BTT gathering *Wimbledon dinner at Kooyong *IC Rod Laver World Junior Challenge *Sedgman Tills Trophy Gold Coast *IC Fed Cup breakfast Perth *Accolades *Looking forward **Sincere thanks to our ‘official’ photographer at many IC events, Alan Fortunato** IC 2019 Year in Review Page 2 BEYOND THE TOUR LAUNCH JANUARY 2019 The IC Australia cocktail party took place on site at the Australian Open in partnership with Tennis Australia in the lovely Yarra View Room. The event brought the former player community together to celebrate the launch of the IC’s initiative to assist former players, Beyond the Tour (BTT), which in the first instance offers complimentary introductory membership to recently retired players. The evening was an opportunity to acknowledge the careers of those recently retired, something that’s often overlooked. Former players inducted into the IC under the BTT initiative were Isabella Holland, Ashling Sumner, Adam Hubble and Stephanie Bengson. It was a great get together, welcoming these and our other new members, Mary Sawyer Collins, Kane Dewhurst, Jane Taylor, John Fitzgerald and Nicole Keneally. It was a most enjoyable evening, attended by nearly 90 of Australia’s former players and tennis community, including John Newcombe, Evonne Cawley, Frank Sedgman, Janet Young, and our then-President Geoff Masters. Also present were representatives from the WTA, ATP and joint hosts of the event, Tennis Australia (TA). IC 2019 Year in Review Page 3 TA CEO Craig Tiley, with IC committee members Dianne Evers and Helen Muir at the BTT Launch TA attendees included CEO Craig Tiley, Chief Tennis Officer Matt Dwyer and one of the excellent lineup of speakers on the night, Head of Performance, Wally Masur. Kerryn Pratt was the MC, Geoff officially launched the Beyond the Tour program, Newk gave his personal tips, Evonne shared her experience of finding identity after professional tennis, and Renee Beck delivered an emotional and powerful message endorsing the IC direction. See these two links for further details and examples of the media coverage: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/renee-beck-when-cheering-stops/ https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/reid-family-legends-praise-initiative-for- struggling-ex-stars-20190116-p50rpn.html IC 2019 Year in Review Page 4 Kerryn Pratt, Kane Dewhurst, Ken Barton and Victor Eke There was quite a bit of emotion and a great vibe in the room on the night. Stories told emphasized the common experiences former players have and many of the new members gave fascinating insights into their lives after tennis. It was left to Scott Draper to sum things up brilliantly, inspiring our tennis family to support each other and encourage others to connect with the former player community. TA’s Matt Dwyer with BTT Ambassador Scott Draper IC 2019 Year in Review Page 5 Kerryn Pratt, Kathleen Stroia WTA, legends Evonne Cawley and Janet Young, Ashley Keber WTA The function showcased our IC’s aims of supporting those retiring, as they transition to life after the pro tour, by offering an ongoing connection to tennis, then as required, assistance in areas including mentoring, education, job seeking, networking, health and wellbeing. Former players and IC members Carol O’Sullivan, Mary Sawyer Collins and Kaye Hallam Nealon IC 2019 Year in Review Page 6 IC HOPMAN CUP FUNCTION PERTH, JANUARY 2019 The IC Function at the 2019 Hopman Cup was a great success but marked the end of an era, with the Hopman Cup being played for the last time. There was great enthusiasm for this gathering, attended by many special guests, with IC Secretary Mandy Morgan the speaker about the IC’s direction and Beyond the Tour. Christine Matison Dorey and Mandy Morgan, IC Hopman Cup function IC 2019 Year in Review Page 7 KOOYONG TENNIS DAY AND LUNCH JANUARY 2019 A terrific morning of tennis took place on the spectacular Kooyong grass under sunny skies. Fun social doubles sets were played, overseen by Match Captain Terry Stone, who then hosted lunch in the clubrooms, along with President Kerryn Pratt and other Committee members. Attending were a number of representatives from the All England Club and Kooyong. Other guests included former TA President Geoff Pollard, ICA Vice Presidents Cedric Mason and Tim Cawthorn and Vice President of IC France, Gail Benedetti, with her sister, Aussie member and legendary seniors player Carol Campling. Thanks to Terry, Carol, Mandy, Chris and all involved with the organisation of the day. Chris Kachel, Carol O’Sullivan and Dianne Evers at Kooyong IC 2019 Year in Review Page 8 Above: Cedric Mason and Geoff Pollard at the Kooyong lunch Below: Tim Cawthorn, Lexie Crooke and Cliff Sproule at Kooyong IC 2019 Year in Review Page 9 Above: Carol Campling and Gail Benedetti at Kooyong Below: Philip Wooldridge (who will be sadly missed), wife Anne, with Ken and Wilma Rosewall IC 2019 Year in Review Page 10 IC AUSTRALIA AGM JANUARY 2019 Held at RSY on Saturday, the AGM saw the handover of the Presidency from Geoff Masters to Kerryn Pratt. Geoff stood down for personal reasons and leaves after laying strong foundations for the BTT initiative and the Club’s future. Renee Beck joined the Committee and Victor Eke departed, after making a great contribution over many years. Mandy Morgan was re-elected as Secretary, after holding that position jointly with Kerryn, and Noel Jensen continues as Treasurer. Noel reported that the Club is in a sound financial position. Kerryn spoke of the many activities planned and the direction of the IC. ANNUAL LUNCH AT ROYAL SOUTH YARRA, JANUARY 2019 AO Mixed doubles finalist JP Smith, Kerryn Pratt, Jayne Hrdlicka and Paul McNamee Nearly 100 guests enjoyed another great IC Australia Annual Lunch held at the splendid Royal South Yarra club on the final Sunday of the Australian Open, with Honorary Life member Cedric Mason delivering the traditional Loyal Toast to start proceedings. Former President and legendary doubles champion Paul McNamee hosted the day, introducing the various attendees. Among the dignitaries were TA President Jayne Hrdlicka, French Federation officials, USTA President Patrick Galbraith, Bill Babcock from the Grand Slam Board, Martin Corrie of the British LTA with his wife Janet, RSY President Tony Joubert and CEO Stewart Fenton, Kooyong President Peter Carew and CEO Chris Brown, and Phillip Brook, All England Chairman with his wife Gillian. (In thanking the IC Australia for the day, Phillip gave a very amusing speech about the roof situation in Paris and how one of the Melbourne Park lids could perhaps be useful in Paris!) IC 2019 Year in Review Page 11 Phillip and Gillian Brook AELTC with Janet Corrie Lovely table! Libby Hodgkins, Eva de Jong, Jan de Tastes and Ann Fotheringham IC 2019 Year in Review Page 12 Early in the lunch, Paul handed over to our newly elected first female ICA President, Kerryn Pratt. Kerryn spoke about the Beyond the Tour initiative and the direction of the Club. She then acknowledged Dianne Evers (one of our Committee members) and New Zealand’s Judy Chaloner for their victory in the 1979 Australian Open doubles, and their tenacity in seeking to see and hold the Trophy together for the first time this week. Remarkably, at the time there was no presentation and they didn’t receive a trophy! Ros Kane, Carol O’Sullivan, with doubles champs ’79 Dianne Evers and Judy Chaloner with Kerryn Pratt Another interviewee was current player and finalist in the AO mixed doubles the previous evening, JP Smith. He won the room talking about the contrast between life on the Challenger circuit compared to his more glamorous fortnight at Melbourne Park. This was a marvellous fairytale story of playing alongside fellow Aussie Astra Sharma and reaching a maiden Grand Slam final! For a change of pace, the wonderful singer Jemma Rix, who was performing as Evita to packed houses as understudy to Tina Arena, enthralled guests with 3 songs including Don’t Cry for me Argentina. IC 2019 Year in Review Page 13 If that wasn’t enough to get everyone emotional, Frank and Jean Sedgman were introduced and invited to dance to Unforgettable, a song with a lot of meaning to Frank. When he won the 1952 Wimbledon singles, doubles and mixed, Frank celebrated by dancing to this song with womens champ Maureen Connelly at the Wimbledon ball. This sentimental journey and waltz down memory lane with his beautiful wife Jean was a highlight of the lunch! A fun day was had by all! IC 2019 Year in Review Page 14 Below: Ken Rosewall, Brian Beers and Will Coghlan Above: Chris Kachel and Dianne Evers give the thumbs up to the Annual Lunch! IC 2019 Year in Review Page 15 BEYOND THE TOUR GATHERING, SYDNEY, MAY 2019 Below: New members inducted in Sydney with Ken Rosewall Nearly 40 former players gathered in Sydney for an alumni catch up, hosted by IC Australia President Kerryn Pratt. Beyond the Tour Ambassador Casey Dellacqua was inducted into the IC by legend of the game and former Vice President Ken Rosewall. Casey retired in April 2018 and spoke compellingly of what she's faced and felt since quitting. Ken presented membership ties and scarves to WTA alumni Casey, Christina Horiatopoulos, Natalija Tanevska, and Sally McCann, Davis Cup champion John Alexander, and Suzy Ellis, inducted as an Associate for her significant contribution to womens tennis in this country through the formation and funding of the Australian Womens Tennis Association in the 1970's.