Strathfield Sports Club Backs RALLY4EVER's Mission to Revive Tennis in Rural Western New South Wales Communities

30th April 2024- With the backing of the Strathfield Sports Club, RALLY4EVER is dedicated to revitalizing tennis within the rural communities of Western New South Wales.

Over twelve days in April, RALLY4EVER headed out west to set up youth tennis programs and upskill local and enthusiastic community members to become trainee RALLY4EVER coaches to ensure longevity and sustainability.

Focusing on towns that have faced flooding, drought and isolation, RALLY4EVER’s Founder and Former Professional Tennis Player Louise Pleming alongside Tennis legend and RALLY4EVER’s Western Tour Ambassador Ian Goolagong and a team of RALLY4EVER coaches travelled to Bourke, Dubbo, Cobar, Coonamble, Girilambone, Gulargambone, Lake Cargelligo, Nyngan, Walgett, Warren and Condobolin from April 14-25th to provide playing opportunities for children and youth and will look to run adult programs in the coming months.

“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 thanks to the backing of Strathfield Sports Club and their ongoing belief in our program,” said RALLY4EVER’s Founder Louise Pleming.

"It is a source of great pride that Strathfield Sports Club could contribute to the success of RALLY4EVER. It is an inspiring organisation," said Bob Bow, Board President of Strathfield Sports Club.

“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. Through Strathfield’s funding we have been able to travel to these communities and provide the equipment and recourses they need to run ongoing programs,” said Louise.

“I am a big believer that organised sport is just one way to keep our youth engaged in their communities. Kids need strong foundations and role models to succeed, so it was pleasing to see RALLY4EVER working with enthusiastic community members in my electorate to upskill and become trainee tennis coaches. Well done to everyone involved in the RALLY4EVER Western Tour and to the kids and other community members who participated; I hope to see the enthusiasm continue,” said Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

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