Driver opens up

By Casey Neill
TENNIS, summer and driving go hand in hand for Ferntree Gully’s Lyn Algie.
The 63-year-old has chauffeured players, their families, officials, VIPs and ballkids during the past 10 Australian Open tournaments.
A friend who umpires the competition encouraged her to get involved.
“I love meeting people,” she said.
Ms Algie had notched up plenty of experience on the road as a Knox Community Volunteer (KCV) driver for more than 20 years but was new to tennis.
She took on the challenge and drives anyone involved with the Open to hotels, restaurants, the Melbourne Zoo and even Lilydale’s Heritage Golf Club during a three-week stint each January.
She’s one of 200 drivers rostered on for six-hour morning, afternoon and evening shifts.
The 7.30pm shift wraps up two hours after the end of play, making for some early morning finishes.
“You never know who you are going to get from one job to the next,” she said.
She names Venus and Serena Williams and Roger Federer as some of the biggest stars she’s driven.
“Roger Federer is gorgeous, he really is lovely,” she said.
Lucy Hopman is also among her favourites. Now in her nineties, the widow of tennis legend Harry Hopman flies over from the United States each year for the Open.
“She’s just the most gorgeous person, she really is,” Ms Algie said.
She said Sam Stosur was “really lovely”, and even spotted her in the crowd at a tournament in Eastbourne in the UK last year.
“Most of them are pretty nice,” she said.
“If they’re coming into a big match they don’t always talk. If they want to chat they do.”
Ms Algie said language sometimes proved a barrier, but the international players were also a highlight.
“They’re from all different countries, you learn different things,” she said.
Ms Algie hosted young Ukrainian tennis player Mariya Koryttseva at her home during three Australian Opens.
A friend six years ago asked Ms Algie if she could house the up and coming Koryttseva for two or three days.
“She stayed for 14 or 15, but we didn’t mind,” Ms Algie said.
Ms Algie also drives for the Australian Masters Golf tournament, and came with-in a metre of golfing leg-end Tiger Woods last November.
“I didn’t get to drive him though, he had his own security,” she said.
Ms Algie’s encounters with some of the world’s greatest sport stars cont-rast sharply with her KCV role.
She’s involved with a craft group each Tuesday, meals on wheels on Wednesdays and helps out at Amaroo Gardens Aged Care Centre Thursdays.
“I fill in other days at meals on wheels,” she said. “You get more out of it than you put in. It makes a big thing in their day. It’s sometimes the only people they see.”
Ms Algie has now notched up 34 years with KCV, and won the 2004 Knox Council Australia Day Volunteer of the Year award.
She encouraged others to donate their time.
“I get angry with people who say ‘I’m bored, and I’ve got no life’ and they sit at home,” she said.
“Well get out there and do something.”
Readers can call 9729 9499 to find out more about volunteering the KCV.