By Tom Ingleton
Darraweit Guim is celebrating a long-awaited milestone as the town prepares for the tennis club’s official reopening on Sunday, March 16.
Once a hub for tennis, netball and basketball, the town’s only sporting facility was devastated by the October 2022 floods.
For a small town like Darraweit Guim, the loss of this space was deeply felt.
Local residents Helen Callahan and Henriette Mcdonald were key figures behind the club’s restoration and worked tirelessly to help rebuild the facility.
They recalled the moment they saw the damage the floods had caused to their club.
“Inside the clubrooms everything had to be re-done, we got a new kitchen, walls and lights,” Ms Callahan said.
“It destroyed everything, the club was just annihilated.”
Through the added help of Macedon Ranges council, the club and the courts have been rebuilt over the past two years.
Ms Callahan said the tennis club goes beyond just being a sports venue, it’s also a vital community space for Darraweit Guim.
“Its the only sporting facility we have in Darraweit, it’s just such a good thing for the community,” she said.
“It’s a place where the kids can come, they can have a hit of tennis but there’s also courts to play basketball and netball if they want to do that, it’s just a really good social thing.
“There’s not much to offer here in Darraweit so I think it’s very important.”
They hope the re-opening of the tennis club will inspire more of the local residents to come down and celebrate the club’s return.
The event on March 16 will feature a membership drive, fun activities, and plenty of entertainment.
“We’re going to have a coach on the day, there will be cardio for the adults, hop-scotch for the kids, there will be pickle ball,” Ms Mcdonald said.
“Ice-cream vans, a free barbecue and memberships will also be available on the day.
“Hopefully people will come down here and see what a great facility it is and they can think wow this is a place I want to be a part of, and they want to join the club.”
