Haven Tennis Club prepared for centenary event in February 2021

Organisers have now announced the celebratory weekend will be held on February 27 and 28 next year.

Sue Exell who heads the centenary organising committee said they were originally meant to hold the event in November just gone.

"Hopefully this one works," Ms Exell said.

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Anyone who has ever played for the Haven Tennis Club is invited to join in the events over the weekend celebration.

"There have been thousands of people who have played over the year. Some short term, some long term but everyone is welcome to come along and say 'g'day'," Ms Exell said.

On the Saturday, the club will have their normal tennis matches and will then have an afternoon tea. From 6om onwards there will be a barbecue for anyone who would like to come.

On the Sunday there will be a casual tournament in the afternoon.

"Anyone who would like can dust off their racquets and have a little play," Ms Exell said.

Part of the weekend will also include an unveiling of a new life members board.

"This is so we can honour the life members who have worked hard on the committee over the years," she said.

The club will also be displaying memorabilia and history, with some items as far back as 1919.

"We'll have a power point presentation up as well. Some of the memorabilia will be old newspaper cuttings," Ms Exell said.

"We'll also have some of the old uniforms we used to wear on display."

Haven Tennis Club is the only consistent sporting club Haven has had over the years.

"It only stopped for a little while during World War Two and it started up again" she said.

Ms Exell said they have a strong focus on their junior team, which leads to members staying on as they grow up.

"A strong club revolves around it's juniors. A lot of clubs don't have juniors, so they don't have that flow of young ones coming through," she said.

"I started in primary school and have never played for another club. I've just been really passionate about the club.

"We've had really strong and passionate community members who have just kept the club running."

The club has had its issues, generally for the same thing.

"We've had tennis court issues time and time again. That never changes," Ms Exell said.

"We've been persistent in getting help with our courts.

"We'd love people to come along just to see the courts we're playing on now," she said.

COVID-19 hit the Haven Tennis Club right during the finals. Ms Exell said it was an "empty end to the season" and it really hit hard after all the hard work players had put in.

"Junior teams especially. They were doing really well and were so excited and it was just snatched away from them," Ms Exell said.

"It was quite stressful for a lot of the young ones. Just to have nothing after a whole season of work."

The current tennis season is going strong. It started in October and will finish in March.

"Hopefully we'll get through a full season," Ms Exell said.

To keep up to date with the Haven Tennis Club centenary celebrations, follow the club on their Facebook page.

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