Wednesday, 18 June 2025

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (14:48): (1175) My constituency question is for the Minister for Community Sport. How is the Victorian Labor government supporting local community sporting clubs across the Pascoe Vale electorate, including the Coburg Tennis Club? Originally established in 1890 next to Pentridge Prison, the Coburg Tennis Club has been serving from the current Bush Reserve location since 1954 and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Victoria. For 135 years the club has continued to guide the development of generations of tennis players onto the local, amateur and professional circuits, including international hall of famer Ashley Cooper and grand slam finalist and Davis Cup champion Mark Philippoussis. With the club’s mission to make tennis accessible and support grassroots health, wellbeing and active recreation outcomes for all, Coburg tennis club is now proudly home to 140-plus players, including many women and girls. But it is the dedicated volunteers who are the heart and soul of the club. Tass Vassiliadis is a lifetime club player and volunteer. Having risen through the AIS, he has since coached at the club for 20 years. Michael Leeder is the club treasurer, Jamie McIlroy is the long-time secretary, Ray Reymers is a former president and Rebecca Johnson is the current president. Through these contributions, Coburg Tennis Club was recognised as the most outstanding tennis club and centre in the 2022 Victorian tennis awards. They would welcome the minister’s advice on future funding steps.