Cannonvale State School; Tennis Whitsunday Club

_{04 June, 2008}

Ms JARRATT (Whitsunday—ALP) (9.32 pm): A quarter of this state’s budget is spent in the area
of health. We know that lifestyle diseases account for many of the hospital stays, operations and
associated treatments that are funded in the budget and we also know that much of this illness and
expense is preventable. This year is the year of physical activity in Queensland schools and there is one
school in my electorate that has the perfect opportunity to get active through the sport of tennis.
Cannonvale State School has for many years now enjoyed a strong partnership with the adjoining
Tennis Whitsunday Club whose junior tennis program has nurtured all comers—from those who can
barely hold a racquet to those who have gone on to become champion players.

Last Saturday 150 members of the local community turned out to help celebrate the official
opening of the new clubhouse facility. This was a great milestone for the club. I am delighted to say that
I was given the honour of cutting the ribbon in the official opening ceremony. During the festivities we
heard how the club has grown and thrived and provided professional coaching for numerous children
and young people from the Whitsunday community. From the early days when they used the school’s
tennis court facilities, the club has gone on to lease additional land, seal the courts, add fencing and
lighting and has now built a fabulous multipurpose facility that doubles as a clubhouse and valuable
space for other community groups.

Using the excellent skills of grants guru Felicity Chapman and after following many dry funding
gullies, the executive managed to put together more than $400,000 in funding to build their new
clubhouse. I am very proud that the state government, through the Department of Sport and Recreation,
was able to contribute $134,000 to the project and the rest came from the council, the local Rotary Club,
the Proserpine Sugar Milling Co-op, club savings, a loan and fabulous support from community
members like Ian Roebuck plumbing.

The day became quite emotional and extra special when two of the club’s stalwart members were
awarded life memberships for their outstanding contributions. Merrilyn Miller, the club’s coach who is
soon to retire, will be very difficult to replace as she has outstanding credentials that include
representing Australia in the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Merrilyn’s daughter Lisa,
who is currently studying in the US on a sporting scholarship, sent a very moving tribute to her mother
that had us all in tears.

Things only got worse for the waterworks when we surprised founding member and past
president Mary Roberts with her life membership. Mary is one of the hardest working people I have ever
met and she gives so passionately of her time to all junior players regardless of their age or ability. They
really have become her second family. I was very proud to be given the honour of presenting Mary with
the public acknowledgement she so richly deserves. The day was a fabulous occasion and I
congratulate club president, Jennifer Napier, on her attention to detail and incredible energy in hosting
the event.

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