NEW fencing, new lighting and upgrades to playing surfaces are just some of the items on the Gunnedah Tennis Club's wish list.
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The club has recently applied for state government grants and will meet with Gunnedah Shire Council to explore more potential funding options.
The club has expressed a desire to carry out upgrades to both the Mornington tennis courts on Hunter Street and the Gunnedah tennis courts on Chandos Street.
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Club president Robert White said the club "had been chasing funding for a while".
"Basically, we would really like to replace the fencing around the Mornington courts, install new LED lighting at the club courts and resurface a couple of courts as well," White said.
"The fencing is due for a bit of facelift; the lighting and the resurfacing would help us host some regional tournaments, which would also help bring in some more funds.
"It's all up in the air at the moment, but we are certainly working hard at exploring all funding options."
Despite Gunnedah's participation numbers decreasing in recent years, the region is producing some of the North West's most talented players.
"I think it would be fair to say most sports across the region are declining in numbers over recent years," White said.
"Looking back 10 years ago, we probably would have had somewhere near 250 members, whereas now that number is probably more like 150 members.
"However, we have been really lucky to have some of the most successful players in the region in recent years.
"That's why these upgrades are so important: because they will give these kids the chance to go as far as they possibly can."
Club member Carolyn Bishop, whose daughter Anna has been among the club's successful juniors, said the upgrades were vital to the club's future.
"It's great to have so many kids playing at the moment and I think upgrading the facilities won't just keep these kids playing, but will encourage new kids to take up the sport," Bishop said.
"The resurfacing and lighting are crucial to allow the club to host tournaments and expand its operations.
"One of my fears is that, if these upgrades don't happen, we might lose players to other places or from the sport altogether."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
