Steels Creek Tennis Club

STEELS CREEK TENNIS & SOCIAL CLUB

The Steels Creek Tennis & Social Club courts are located at 815/817 Steels Creek Road, opposite Hunts Lane.

NEW: The Committee met June 8th and voted on fees for the coming year - starting 1 July 2011. Tennis Victoria is raising their affiliation fee by $4 for individuals and $28 for family memberships. We must pass that along. The membership form reflects that change. In the past, the Affiliation Fee included $3 to pay the Club Affiliation - that is separated into membership now. Therefore, a senior membership goes from $57 to $61 and a junior (under 17 at the time of application) membership goes from $37 to $41. Social membership stays at $10. Per the rules, this decision must be approved by the membership at the AGM - refunds will be made if the membership rejects these fees.

Since August 2009, the Club has waived lights fees for those playing social night tennis on Monday and Thursday nights. Reluctantly, the committee voted to start the lights fee of $2 per night starting this week. Please address questions to Ed Bartosh, Secretary.

Interested in joining? Complete our membership form (PDF) (or WORD format) and bring it with you to an event or mail with fees to: The Secretary, Steels Creek Tennis & Social Club, P.O. Box 213, Yarra Glen. 3775

The new club rooms were formally opened on Sunday, 15 May 2011 with the assistance of Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Terry Avery and Cr. Jeanette McRae. Cr. McRae asked Life members Alby and Gwen Leckie and Jean Lowe to cut the ribbon opening the facility. Following a nice morning tea, Danielle Lowerson, Community Tennis Officer with Tennis Victoria, provided games and prizes for the younger set and a sausage sizzle was provided for others. Thanks also to Katie Kelly of Victoria Sport and Recreation for setting up the day. See more pictures from the day.

Your SC Tennis Club was recognized at the 2009 Victorian Sport and Recreation Awards ceremony on 23 November at the MCG for its "outstanding contribution to bushfire recovery". The press release said "Sports clubs such as Steels Creek Tennis Club are at the heart of many communities and provide a place for families and friends to get together and in times of adversity, sport can play a key role in building community strength. Our bushfire-affected clubs are playing a key role as communities rebuild, recover in the months and years after the fires." This was unexpected by us, and we are grateful to our community for their support.

Both Steels Creek Tennis Club teams have won Premiership of their sections (OS-08 and OS-13) of the Eastern Region Tennis Association. Finals were played on Saturday, 28 March 2009 - each team playing the Reserve Champion team from Parkwood. Each team finished at the top of their ladder and played through to win in the Grand Final. Congratulations to Alby Leckie and Reon Vuglar, captains of the teams, and all who participated and supported the teams. Well done!

Open Section 8 - summer 08-09

Open Section 13 - summer 08-09

The Steels Creek Tennis Club has been awarded $50,000 for lights as announced on Tuesday, 23 march 2009 by the Honourable James Merlino, MP, Minister for Sport and Recreation. The Shire of Yarra Ranges added $20,000. Tamatha Harding of Tennis Victoria gave the club sport shirts, racquets, and balls to help with our teams and community efforts. Read the story from the Lilydale Yarra Valley Leader.

Steels Creek has suffered a blow from the bushfires of February 2009. However, as Andrew Chapman wrote: "The vine may be singed and the fruit burnt, but the roots are still there....".

The Steels Creek Tennis Club will be open and playing on Saturday, 14 February in Saturday Comps as normal (1PM). Our grateful thanks to the utilities, the Shire of Yarra Ranges and volunteers who are helping keep us active and functioning.

See more with a few pictures.

The Shire contracted to install a new tank to replace one burned by the fires. They will also be using the block for a community amenities centre. Toilets and showers will be available for use. Across the street will be a water point for stock water and fodder. The new tank is full, roof cleaned for the next rain, and temporary showers are installed.

Callum Robinson and some volunteers arrived with help and 100m of shade cloth donated by Michael Frost of Silvan Selecta. Volunteers came from the Yarra Glen Community Assistance Project. (see a picture and names of the crew on the bushfire recovery page

Starting to heal and grow from our community roots (the kindness and help from members and strangers)!

Both teams played on Saturday the 14th - one away at Wonga Park and Alby's OS-8 team at home. While preparing to start play, Fran Bailey, MP and Malcolm Turnbull, MP arrived to see the community starting its recovery.

We just enjoyed a successful Tennis Open Day sponsored by Tennis Victoria. See some pictures from the day...

The Open Sets Section 4 team won the Grand Final for their grouping on 2 September 2006. The Open Sets Section 10 and Section 12 teams finished as runners-up in their sections. Well done!!!

ACTIVITIES

AGM - third Sunday in October. Come join us for our AGM at the courts starting at noon. Bring some fodd to throw on the barbeque afterwards.

¤ Monday night - Social Tennis - 7:30PM

¤ Tuesday - Morning Social Tennis - 9:00AM

¤ Thursday - Social Tennis - 7:30PM

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STEELS CREEK TENNIS CLUB.

According to an article in "The Evelyn Observer" 19th May 1911, the Steels Creek Tennis Club was opened by Mr. E.C. Morris. It seems that the courts were on Mr. Fletcher's land.

Then on 21st February 1920 the Club was opened by Cr. W. Hubbard. It seems this was a different location, probably at what was known as Commerford Hill, just north of Valley Road.

In 1961 Bill & Mary Lawrence donated land to build the present courts, but it was 1988 before decent facilities became available. In the 1990's, the land was deeded over to the local Shire, but the Steels Creek Tennis & Social Club, Inc operates the facilities by agreement with the Shire.

The Club volunteers worked to improve the facilities, and the bitumen courts were redone in Synpave in 1999, and again, with a the help of a grant from the Shire, synthetic grass courts were laid over the Synpave in 2007. Further improvements came with new lights in 2009 and a new clubhouse in 2011.

Steels Creek players compete in the Eastern Region Tennis Association (http://www.ertinc.org.au/. At their web site you can see the standings of or teams by selecting Steels Creek from their ladders page by clicking the button above. We are also affiliated with Tennis Victoria and the Mountain Area Ladies Tuesday tennis Association (MALTTA).

NEWSLETTERS - "Over the Net"

CONTACT

Alby Leckie, President (03) 5965 2354

Ed Bartosh, Secretary (03) 9739 1879