Ngāti Toa Tennis Club's History
Ngāti Toa Tennis Club has been around since the dawn of time (or so it seems).
Marion Siverson and her late husband John were founding members, and Marion still plays at the club.
When I first joined in 1984, the courts were "bubble" courts. The surface was pebbles, coated in paint, and they played lightning fast.
Since then, the courts have been re-surfaced in asphalt, and then 2 of the four courts are multi-use all-weather plexipave. Now we have 4 synpave courts for all weather tennis and netball use.
The clubrooms have been there for 30-odd years, and are only now needing significant repairs. Maintenance over the years has seen the deck repainted a number of times, a new roof fitted and the outside has changed colour several times, as well.
The wind-break, and fencing around the courts has also changed several times in the last 30 years, but the character of the club remains as friendly and accommodating as ever.
In 2012 Janice Laurenson won Tennis Central's and Tennis New Zealand Volunteer of the Year.
Ngāti Toa also came runner up for Club of the Year
2012, Business House competition commenced
2014 started with a "Ngatitoa Tennis Club" being painted on the fence, but we will change that to the correct spelling, shortly.
At the 2015 AGM, Janice Laurenson was made a life member