FEBRUARY 2020 President Cecilie McIntyre [email protected] Page 1-3 IC Morning Teas 7 ASB Classic Weeks. th Hon Sec. Angela Hart [email protected] Page 3 Date for 2020 AGM & Dinner 17 May Page 4 ACE Philanthropy Programme Update Vice President Russell Tills [email protected] Page 5 Blast From The Past Judy Tinnock Hon Treasurer Chris Ronayne [email protected] Page 6 Possible future of Classic Men’s Week Link to IC Council website www.ictennis.net Page 7 Julian Tatum Rod Laver Junior Challenge Have a look through this website and click the flags to see news of the other countries. Page 8-12 Drop Shots Morning and afternoon teas. We have continued our tradition of inviting all IC Members and a guest to our teas, held on both Mondays of the International Men's and Women’s Tournaments. Thanks to Tennis Auckland for the ticket arrangements. The photos are available to all who wish to see them on our Cluster link. https://cluster.co/i/XVX3DXDD We had around 70 at each and all enjoyed catching up with their tennis friends. The new Members introduced were Julie Turner, Robin Denton, and Hon Members Peter Kiely and Tony Woolf , here with ICNZ President Cecilie McIntyre. Thanks to those who came from around the country to join in. As you will see ( on Page 2 ) one of the new Members invited, Troy Tipene was unable to be with us, as he was starting a new job but his message was read out and commented on favourably by many. Don & Jude Turner, Jill Bignell, a former President of Tennis Auckland and organiser of our morning teas, Gloria and Guy Nash, a Life member of Tennis Auckland with the current TA President, Ross Pickett. 1 Troy’s message : Morning all and please accept my apologies for not being able to be present today. For me the new year creates new opportunities in my work life therefore I could not make today. I feel privileged to be invited into the ICNZ club and look forward to many events throughout the years, …. if I could quickly go back through my years playing this game. Tennis has and will always form a major part of my life. I have met so many wonderful people throughout the years and I remember the days when I first started hitting a tennis ball against the walls down at Beach Haven tennis club through to playing at some of the most amazing tennis tournaments around the world. I would like to thank my amazing parents who supported me for so many years. Their dedication was endless like so many more parents in the sport and without their support there is no way I would be the person I am today. So many people I would like to thank, Judy Chaloner my first coach, Kevin Woolcott my National Coach followed by Brian Fairlie and Jeff Simpson through to Frankie Dennis and Dick and Desrae Garrett from Maori Tennis. All these people taught me so much which in all honesty I transferred to my life personally today. Moving on after the National Squad years I decided to pack my bags at the age of 17 and move to Germany under the guidance of Tony and Maureen Parun. These years were pretty tough being away from home. Many of the younger generation wouldn’t understand as we didn’t have internet or Skype back in the day and making a phone call was like taking a loan out at a bank so I was only able to make them once a month. However Tony and Maureen were basically my new mum and dad. These years were just amazing and to be able to visit the Parun family today still brings tears to my eyes. Totally amazing people and for them to open their house for me back then I will never forget. I had the most amazing experiences while in Europe. Playing at Wimbledon and French Open juniors the highlights. Playing Club tennis and travelling around Europe with my best buddy Julian Faulls. Hosting some great friends in Germany … Michael Zoricich and the Turner brothers but my fondest memories will always be my playing time in New Zealand. So many friends and families I won’t name because I know I will forget most but I think you all know who you are and some are in this room now. You all played a major part in my life. Tennis will always be part of my life and after giving away the sport in the early 90s to now picking up a racquet after a 25 year break I have to say how hard is this sport. It probably doesn’t help I’m now 30kg over my ideal fighting weight but I haven’t lost the passion for winning even at this level. This is the most amazing game and amazing people and thankyou to everyone who helped me along the way. I look forward to meeting you all at the next event. Troy Tipene. Other features during the two weeks of great tennis were the successful return to the ASB Classic of Serena Williams, the Sold Out signs for all sessions of the Women’s week, only one day of rain over the fortnight, the arrival of a future star in the Men’s week with 21 year old Ugo Humbert winning his first ATP title….with many predicting a very bright future for him. We were also impressed with young Coco Gauff. Stage One of the upgrade to the ASB Stadium came with the new Yock Stand. We need lots of money now to be able to have a roof over the complex in the future!! With the Australian bush fires being so devastating, many innovative ways were found to raise money, including Serena donating her winnings and auctioning her tennis dresses, other players donating and special seats created for all sessions. 2 . Serena & Olympia After many visits to Auckand the popular retiring Caroline Wozniacki played her second to last tournament with friend Serena. They were finalists in the doubles. Coco Ugo Our AGM and Annual Dinner 2020 Our Annual Dinner and AGM will be held on Sunday May 17 th, starting around 5.30 with our mix and mingle for members and guests. More details will be sent to members, but please make a note of the date...we encourage members from out of Auckland to come if possible. This year our guest speaker will be a tennis man whose voice will be more familiar than his face to many of you. Matt Brown commentates the matches on radio sport for both weeks, with IC member David Mustard as his comments man. Matt has for the last few years been the voice of the English commentaries at Roland Garros in the on-line radio station. He also does a 90 minute commentary stint each day for the American TV network. He is known for his tennis Podcasts keeping NZ listeners up to date with our touring players and local tennis news. Matt is the Sports News Director for Radio ZB and Matt Brown & David Mustard. Radio Sport with his particular interest in tennis. He has also been the MC for recent Tennis NZ Annual Award evenings. 3 During the Men’s Weeks morning tea our V P Russell Tills gave us an update on our IC Philanthropy Programme. ACE Programme 2020 The ICNZ philanthropy initiative is the ACE Programme, which is a series of 8 lessons teaching disadvantaged children a combination of tennis tuition and life skills. The age range of the children is 9-13 years old and the venue for the lessons are low decile primary and intermediate schools. ACE is an acronym for Aspirational Childhood Education, but we, of course, know it as a service winner. We are hopeful that the children will experience both in the ACE Programme. In 2020, the ACE Programme will be building on its experiences from the 2019 pilot at Bairds Mainfreight Primary School in Otara, South Auckland. The intention for 2020, is to run four ACE Programmes with four different primary or intermediate schools, one per term and ideally in different parts of Auckland. The number of children participating in the ACE Programme in 2020 is expected to be close to 100; a considerable increase from the 17 from the pilot. In 2020 the ACE Programme will have a new Lead Coach in Campbell Cramer-Roberts. With 27 years as Head Coach at Glendowie Tennis Club, having been elected Tennis New Zealand Club Coach of the Year in 2016 Campbell brings a very successful coaching career to the ACE Programme. During his time in East Auckland, Campbell worked with several low decile schools, so has both a knowledge and enthusiasm for the children who will be participating in the ACE Programme. Running four ACE Programmes during the year is a step up in the funding requirements for 2020. We have sought a grant from the IC Council philanthropy organisation, ICP, for 50% of the 2020 costs and early indications are that they will be supportive. It is a prerequisite of the ICP funding, that the remaining 50% is funded locally. To that extent, we have established the ACE Charitable Trust which will assist our endeavours to raise funding locally from charitable trusts and sporting trusts. In addition, the Trust will be our vehicle for the running and administering of the ACE programme. Guy Nash has very kindly agreed to come on board as our ACE Programme Co-ordinator and we welcome his involvement and extensive administrative experience.