Jelena joins Drouin to promote equity

Former international tennis star Jelena Dokic was in Drouin recently to film a segment for a pilot program to promote gender equality in the sport.

Her attendance at the Drouin Tennis Club courts drew a large crowd of men, women, boys and girls of all ages.

Mr Dokic is an ambassador for the gender equity program being run by Tennis Victoria.

The Drouin club was one of three from across the state chosen as good examples for case studies of inclusion and gender equality.

Drouin, a regional club, is being featured alongside commercial club South Yarra and the suburban Cranross club that is run by volunteers.

The video being produced will be posted on Tennis Victoria’s website to be shared by all other clubs.

Ms Dokic said tennis was probably better advanced than many other sports but acknowledged there was still more ton be done.

Now a coach she said there was a need for more women in those roles.

The pilot program will focus on ways to make tennis clubs more family friendly and somewhere for all regardless of gender or age.

Ways this can be done include honouring the achievements of males and females equally on honour boards and photograph galleries in clubhouses and practices to deal with inappropriate behaviour.

The Drouin tennis club has almost 180 players that use its eight-court facility in Bennett St.

There are 62 children aged up to 14, 22 in the 15-24 category, 39 aged between 25 and 54 and another 25 players aged 55 and over.

Eighty-two of the players are male and 62 female while the large committee has about equal representation from males and females.