A HISTORY OF THE KAMO TENNIS CLUB

The Kamo Tennis and Croquet Club was formed in 1911 by Kamo Blacksmith & Kamo Town Board Chairman Murdoch Mcinnes. He and his wife Nellie were principal organisers & leading players for more than 50yrs. Two others involved from the outset were Bobby Whitelaw, a Kamo Grocer and Kamo Town Clerk and Jane White.

Early tennis days were very much social occasions for the community.
Many Kamo residents and their children went along to play or simply sit, watch, gossip and partake in afternoon teas. The playing dress of the day was far different to what it is now, the attire being much more formal and all white. Highlights of these early years were the friendly but competitive rivalries against other clubs in the district such as Hikurangi, Riponui, Matarau, Onerahi, Maungakaramea and Mairtown-YMCA.

The Club was treated favourably by the Kamo Town Board during the 1920s’ and was charged one guinea for each of the two courts a season as a lease.

The old wooden shack which served as the tennis pavilion since 1920 was sold off in 1958 and replaced by a new fibrolite building, money for which came from the sale of debentures. The pavilion has been extended and improved on numerous occasions since. Both the Kamo Soccer and Cricket Clubs have rented the pavilion at various times.

The club went into recess in 1939 as WWII approached and reopened in 1955. The three Life Members to be honoured at the re-opening were Mrs McInnes, Mrs White and Mr Whitelaw.

In 1955, a local Kamo Draper & known identity Terry O’Leary provided the drive and leadership which led to the revival of the club. It was he who inspired fellow enthusiasts, cajoled the Kamo Town Council to do its bit and drummed up support in the community and among local businessmen. At the time the prime object was to concentrate on encouraging junior players and to provide a social centre for Kamo. With community backing and fundraising a third court was added, the pavilion revamped, a new volleyboard and umpire stands installed, and fencing erected.
Membership was consolidated, social play encouraged and club spirit developed. In 1956 the club affiliated to the Whangarei Lawn Tennis Association.

Over the years the club has taken out loans and successfully repaid them from the Whangarei City Council to fund water, power, sewage, drainage and court reconstructions.

The club flourished in the 1960s’and 70s’. In 1970 the courts were leased from the Whangarei City Council, this agreement continues today. Membership increased in 1971 to a record 350 members. Kamo High School courts had to be used to cater for the many interclub teams and junior coaching squads that Kamo were providing. A fifth court was subsequently built to cater for increased playing numbers. In 1972 the Kamo Tennis Club hosted a series of exhibition matches featuring New Zealand Davis Cup team members Onny Parun and Jeff Simpson.

By the 1980s, Kamo could claim to be the strongest, in numbers if not in standard, tennis club in Northland. It easily fielded the most interclub teams in all grades of the Whangarei Competition. Due to the Marsden Point Refinery expansion several Dutch families joined and featured in leading roles at the club. In October 1986, a festival weekend was held at the club to celebrate its 75 year Jubilee.

In recognition of service and dedication to the club, six more Life Memberships have been granted since the original three in 1955. Tom Clarke, Brian Burridge, Fay Campbell, Lyle Turner, Ava Dickey and Francie James have all in their own way committed countless hours of their own personal time ensuring the functioning and progression of the club. Special mention must be made of the redoubtable Lyle Turner who not only served as Kamo Tennis Club President for some 30 years but also served as President and became a Life Member of the Northland Lawn Tennis Association. In addition, Lyle was also the Chairman and original instigator of the Whangarei Junior Tennis Management Board.

Over the years the Kamo Tennis Club has had a major impact on tennis in the North providing numerous players, coaches, selectors and administrators at Club, Junior, Whangarei Sub-Association and Northland representative level. Ethne Mitchell became a national womens champion, New Zealand representative and had that highly prestigious honour of playing at Wimbledon. Leona Curry, Bruce Mackintosh, Graeme Mitchell and Marty O’Donnell all became nationally ranked juniors. Many members also excelled at other sports with some also reaching national senior level, these include Lindsay Townsend - rugby, Garry Frew - table tennis, Lyn Parker - netball, Pat Whiteman - hockey and Angela Leishman - table tennis.

Since the early days, families have always been a feature of the club with generations following in their parents footsteps becoming members and administrators of the club. Notable families include the Clarkes, the Frews, the Hansens, the Mitchells and the Turners. All fine servants of the club and indeed the game of tennis.

Recent times have seen the club struggle membership wise with the overall decline of the game in general along with age,wear and tear of the facility. Veterans and Ladies day tennis is still thriving, there is a strong Mens Interclub side and a developing Junior programme.