Author Archives: Bernard Gray

2025 Griffith MIA Open – Entries Now Open and upcoming Working Bee

Our flagship annual event – the MIA Open – is coming up this Saturday 7 June to Monday 9 June (King’s birthday long weekend).

It’s a wonderful 104-year-old tournament featuring players from all over Australia and caters to all levels from beginner to advanced. It includes fun social events like parent-child doubles and centenary doubles (where both players’ ages must exceed 100).

It’s usually sold out well in advance, so register here quickly – you can play in up to four events. Text Oliver on 0498843181 if you need help on how to enter (like a suggestion on which division might suit you best) or want to be matched up with a partner.

As a volunteer-run club, we rely on help from members to make this event a success.

This Sunday 4 May from 8.30 am we will be having a working bee to do some gardening, spread sand on courts, tidy up and repair some lines. It would be great if you could come along for a couple of hours to pitch in as many hands make light work. 

Equipment is provided, but if you have a shovel or hammer, bring it along. Cake and morning tea will be provided, it’s a nice social morning and you can stay for as long as you like. 

If you can’t make it Sunday, we’ll also be looking for volunteers to do two-hour shifts at the canteen and to help us set up over the long weekend, so if you could spare a couple of hours then it would then it would be most appreciated. 

Please let me know if you could help out at our working bee or over the June long weekend and if you have any questions.

Thanks so much

Oliver Jacques

President
Griffith Tennis Club
Ph: 0498843181

Mauro hitting a forehand

Men’s Summer Comp – Week 5

We are nearly at the halfway point of the Summer Thursday Night Men’s Tennis Competition.

The players welcomed the slight breeze and cooler temperatures, it was particularly enjoyed by Blake Rayworth and Brendan Augustus who managed a huge 27 games winning their sets convincingly. Blake has become the up-and-comer as he has managed to go from 10th position to 3rd, people are whispering in corners that he may be playing his best tennis ever.

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2023 Club Championships – Oct 13-27

The GTC 2023 Club Championships will be held every Friday evening from the 13th to the 27 of October

Come and join defending champions, eager hopefuls and the rest of us for this annual event of great tennis, great company (and a free BBQ!), and of course, the chance to get your name written into Griffith Tennis Club history on the board!

Registration:

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MIA Open Championships… Into the 1930s

This is the second in a series of historical articles written by Lorraine Maxwell who has been tirelessly digging back through the MIA Open archives. Thankyou Lorraine!

In the 1930’s players from around the region participated in the tournament. Tennis was a sporting and social event with articles in the paper describing the dance, band and venue after the tournament had concluded.

In 1932 the courts moved further down the street, to where the old ambulance station is towards McDonalds. There were 6 courts plus other around the town.

Jack Shannon won the Men’s Singles in 1933 & 1934, his deadly accuracy and sound play meant that he was able to come back from a 4-0 deficit to finally win 9-7 in an early round, then win the final easily.

jack-shannon-serving-1930s
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1920 MIA Championships – Where it all began…

This is the first in a series of historical articles written by Lorraine Maxwell who has been tirelessly digging back through the MIA Open archives. Thankyou Lorraine!

The first MIA Championship was held in November 1920.

It was either in response to local players going to Country Week in Sydney and then organising the event OR needing to have a tournament to qualify for Country Week.1

Whichever way it happened it was an association of local tennis court owners who met in a school near the old cheese factory in Bagtown and decided to run this championship.

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100th MIA Open – help us make it the best yet!

Dear Members, Players and their families, past and present,


2020 will mark the 100th year of Griffith’s longest running sporting event, the MIA Open Tennis Tournament.
The tournament began in 1920, and has run every year since – we’d like to celebrate this Milestone year by remembering the tournament’s rich history, acknowledge the importance and contribution that events like this have in a community, and of course by making the 2020 MIA Open the best yet!

We are inviting anyone who is interested in participating in the planning and organisation of the event to join us for the:

Initial Event Planning meeting
When: 8pm Tuesday 11th February
Where: Griffith Tennis Clubhouse – Noorilla St

We are also inviting anyone who has memorabilia of past events to please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!
Contact: Robyn Meehan 0429 487 472, or
Email: info@griffithtennisclub.com.au

Please share this with anyone you think may be interested!

With thanks,
The Griffith Tennis Club