Champion Casey honoured
Afamiliar face at Wimmera tennis courts has been honoured for her volunteering work.
Horsham’s Sandra Casey is involved with Drung South Tennis Club and Wimmera Regional Tennis and was awarded Tennis Victoria’s Community Champion of the Month for October.
She said it was a surprise to know she had received the award and the recognition was ‘lovely’.
“I get a lot from volunteering and while you put in hard work, you are rewarded,” Casey said.
“Particularly with regional teams, to see the joy in the juniors when they are selected and when they participate is wonderful.
“When I go out to a squad training and they all say ‘hi Sandra’ it makes you feel a part of something.
“Volunteers are on the decline, which is a shame because while you give a lot, you also get a lot back.”
Casey is Drung South Tennis Club secretary, which includes keeping club affiliations up to date, organising teams, registrations, social events, uniforms, club merchandise, the AGM and player profiles.
She also plays each Saturday.
Casey is a key driver behind Wimmera representative teams and events.
She organises the teams with tryouts, accommodation and travel and works with junior co-ordinators to give players opportunities to represent their region.
Casey organises the Wimmera regional points tournaments and has been an integral part of moving the events to a digital platform to encourage more players to participate.
She has been playing tennis since she was eight years-old.
“I have met great people through tennis and continue to meet good people,” she said.
“It’s a great sport to play and be involved with and it can be played by young people and people who are getting older.
“The amount of people I know through tennis was highlighted when I had messages come through congratulating me on the award.
“A lot of people can’t play tennis anymore, whether it’s through injury or another reason, so I will continue to play because there’s no valid reason for me not to hit the tennis court.”
Casey said she was thankful to be nominated for the award and it was an honour to receive it.
“It’s great Tennis Australia and Tennis Victoria are acknowledging how much volunteers mean to the sport and the continuity of it within our communities,” she said.