TENNIS: Over the past few years the Jerrabomberra Tennis Club has gone from struggling to play home games locally to hosting statewide tournaments- new facilities and surfaces have turned the fate of the club around.
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At the June 24 council meeting the Queanbeyan City Council approved $25,000 of funding to go towards the completion of the clubroom's internal walls, the installation of security and access systems, water tanks and floor finishes. This will allow the club to expand upon previous upgrades.
The Jerrabomberra Tennis Club has certainly come a long way, starting with just one grass court in 1997 and Talbot said the final clubroom build will allow the club to not only service their expanding community, but stand out in the ACT competition.
Starting as just a verandah the clubhouse features a small kitchen and a toilet, but upgrades will bring something more lavish, Talbot said.
"We had to demolish the old clubhouse, which was very small and couldn't accommodate everyone when all six courts were being used," he said.
"It's been an effort by both volunteers and people within the building industry- a combined effort by the community and businesses.
"[The changerooms] have a range of changes to save on water and electricity, we've pressurised the building to reduce the heating and cooling depending on the time of year."
Jerrabomberra had four new synthetic courts installed as well as additional lighting to covers all six of the club's courts, in 2012.
Prior to the upgrades the club was forced travel as far away as Belconnen to play 'home' competition matches.
At the time of the original improvements Jerrabomberra Tennis Club president commented the upgraded lighting was "some of the best in the ACT competition" and mentioned a lot of other clubs agreed.
"People would then say 'geez you've got great courts, but what's happened to your clubhouse?'," he said.
"[The clubhouse] is a very modern design and a better building than most tennis clubs within Queanbeyan and the ACT, it's close to the best."
Last year the club's amenities received an overhaul, previously the club had been required to bring in portable toilets during major competitions and special events.
"We had one toilet for 300 members and we would have 250 people at coaching clinics," he said.
"The view of the members is that they're very pleased it's happening and it's long overdue."
Club-based fundraising has played a part in constructing the improved facilities but Talbot said a lot of the project has relied on council funding.
The final upgrade is expected to be completed before start of the spring season in August.
