This Moruya Tennis Club case study is part of the series highlighting why grassroots sports funding is essential to build and develop communities that encourage participants to increase their physical activity levels. 

In 2018 the Federal Government committed over $150 million to drive national sports participation and physical activity initiatives to get Australian’s moving. 

The Moruya Tennis Club (MTC) clubhouse was built in 1990 with volunteer labour, donated building materials and fundraising efforts. The interior of the clubhouse progressively deteriorated over time and in 2018, despite the best efforts of club members the female amenities had become decrepit. 

The MTC received $20,000 in funding from the Federal Government to refurbish the Women’s change rooms under the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program. 

During the early stages of the renovations it was discovered that the clubhouse was infested with termites and required a complete demolition of the male and female change rooms and toilet amenities. After some additional fundraising efforts the club amenities were successfully renovated. 

“In addition to the $20,000 the club received from the Federal Government the club had a team that did some fundraising so that we could cover the cost of the termites and that really brought the community together to improve the clubhouse for all the members,” MTC member Rebecca Stanley said. 

Before the refurbishment of the change rooms, women made up about 30 per cent of the MTC’s membership. Since the renovations were completed in November 2019 female membership has increased to 50 per cent. 

“We had some feedback from teachers whose schools participate in the schools tennis program, that prior to the renovation the absenteeism from the girls in particular was really high. Since the renovations, the absenteeism has decreased and there is a lot more involvement of all children but particularly girls,” Stanley said. 

Without the government funding, MTC wouldn’t have been able to upgrade their facilities to provide their members with a safe clubhouse. This case study again demonstrates the need to continue investing in community sports.

Download the case study here.