By LIAM TWOMEY
SUNSHINE Park is living proof that the sport of tennis knows no barriers.
With a rich history of working with multicultural organisations like Spirit West and AMES, the club has recently introduced tennis to the growing Burmese population in Brimbank.
Every Friday night at least 12 and sometimes as many as 28 members of the Burmese community take to the courts under the guidance of head coach Craig Vaughan.
Not even Melbourne’s wild weather has been able to put a dent in their growing enthusiasm.
“A couple of weeks ago it was pouring rain and they still went out there and played in the rain even though I said that’s not really what we do for tennis,” Vaughan said.
“They love it. Every Friday they are there from six until eight on the dot. They will play that whole time.”
Sunshine Park initially applied for a grant from the Brimbank Council to set up the program and, once successful, the two organisations worked with Tennis Victoria to find a time to suit the players.
While the initial aim was just for one hit a week, the interest from the players has grown quickly.
“It’s really been working well,” Vaughan said.
“The next step as a club is to get them in the mainstream part of the club in the form of competition and mixing with all members which is a bit hard for them to do obviously with the language skills and being new to the country and to the area.
“During the week now we are starting to see little groups of ones and twos coming down and using the facilities during the day or in the afternoon. Even late at night there are groups coming down and getting out on court and having a hit.”
The increase in numbers has had another positive impact with the club nearing capacity and hopeful of building more courts soon.
Vaughan said the goal was to be able to cater for all current and future members of the community.
“As a club, we sat down and we said that we don’t want it to just be a small tight knit group of people.
“We wanted it to be a club where anyone who wants to play can come down and basically see what it’s like to play for a Tennis Club where everyone is welcome.
“We just want as many people to come down and play at the club as possible. We want it to be as close to an open door policy as you can at a tennis club.”
