RALLY4EVER and Tennis Greats Set to Revive Tennis in Rural Western New South Wales Communities

10th April 2024- Following a successful journey to Western New South Wales in December 2023, where RALLY4EVER ran pilot tennis programs for youth in Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston, Cowra, and Parkes, the non-profit organization, dedicated to providing free community tennis programs, is poised to establish sustainable tennis initiatives for children and youth across the region.

Over ten days in April, RALLY4EVER will head out west to upskill local and enthusiastic community members to become trainee RALLY4EVER coaches, to run ongoing weekly youth tennis programs to ensure longevity and sustainability.

“The foundation of our RALLY4EVER community tennis program is to give our participants both adults and youth the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, connect, and have fun along the way, motivating them to keep coming back each week. We have people from diverse backgrounds, abilities and ages across the country, and we are so excited to be able to bring our program to children and youth in regional Western New South Wales,” said RALLY4EVER’s Founder Louise Pleming.

After spending time on court in December and having powerful conversations with Aboriginal Medical Services, youth organisations, and council members, RALLY4EVER’s Louise Pleming discovered the need for ongoing programs in these towns.

“We have had many conversations and many phone calls over the past few months with community coordinators and council members and they are so excited to bring life back to these courts, and get their children and youth and wider community having fun and connecting through the game of tennis. What is amazing is that all these towns have tennis courts, but many are not being used and haven’t been for years. Many of the youth in these towns have never even picked up a tennis racquet,” said Louise.

Focusing on towns that have faced flooding, drought and isolation, Pleming alongside Tennis legend and RALLY4EVER’s Western Tour Ambassador Ian Goolagong and a team of RALLY4EVER coaches will travel to Bourke, Dubbo, Cobar, Coonamble, Girilambone, Gulargambone, Lake Cargelligo, Nyngan, Walgett, Warren and Condobolin from April 15-25th to provide playing opportunities for children and youth and will look to run adult programs in the coming months.

“I am proud of my country (Wiradjuri). I love my people. Tennis showed me the world. Now I can show my people tennis”, said Ian Goolagong.

With a former professional tennis player at the helm, and Ambassadors including Tennis greats Sam Stosur, Pat Cash, Daria Saville, as well as SEAL and Michael Caton to name a few, the foundation is dedicated in giving everyone access to the game of tennis they love so much, while having a bit of fun along the way.

RALLY4EVER currently runs over 30 free weekly tennis programs across the nation creating playing opportunities for more than 12,000 adults and youth nationwide.

For more information on RALLY4EVER visit www.rally4ever.org.

Condobolin

Monday 15th April

4-6pm

Condobolin Tennis Club

Lake Cargelligo

Tuesday 16th April

4-6pm

Warren

Wednesday 17th April

4-6pm

Nyngan

Thursday 18th April

4-6pm

Cobar

Friday 19th April

4-6pm

Cobar Tennis Club

Girilambone

Saturday 20th April

3-6pm

Bourke

Monday 22nd April

4-6pm

Walgett

Tuesday 23rd April

4-6pm

Gulargambone

Wednesday 24th April

10am-12pm  

Coonamble

Wednesday 24th April

4-6pm

Dubbo

Thursday 25th April

9am - 10am

Paramount Tennis Club