Hugh caught out

By Emma Sun
SPORT and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty suffered a smashing at the hands of the ladies at the Mount Evelyn Tennis Club last Tuesday.
The hammering came in a friendly match on the upgraded tennis court after he officially opened the improved facilities.
“I played a game of tennis against these ladies when they asked me for the grant and they let me win.
“But now that I’ve given them the money, they just won’t lay down,” Mr Delahunty said.
Works on the clubhouse, the two courts and the lighting were completed last month after the club received funding for $190,000 from the State Government, Yarra Ranges Council and Bendigo Bank.
It now has two synthetic courts, along with the two old en-tout-cas courts and the clubhouse has been fitted with a new kitchen, new carpet and given a lick of fresh paint.
Mr Delahunty said the community will reap in the benefits.
“I’ve always been very passionate about sport and I believe more people should be more active more often because it’s good for their physical and mental health,” he said.
“The Mount Evelyn Tennis Club had capacity restraints and could not expand, so we found ways to make what we had better and we got great benefits – water savings, lower running costs, less disruptions to play and the lighting will allow for greater usage.
“It’s a great outcome.”
He congratulated the club committee on its hard work and recognised the efforts of vice-president Wendy Ekins, secretary Susan Smith and treasurer Bodil Weickhardt in seeing the refurbishments to completion.
Club president Robert Kane said it was fantastic that the works were finally finished, which was a huge development for the club.
“This is probably the third biggest thing to happen to the club and it is a great advance forward.”
Mount Evelyn Tennis Club had been pushing for better courts since 2009, when watering of the en-tout-cas courts became illegal during the height of the drought.
A huge influx in membership saw an immediate need for the addition of night tennis teams, which had committee members lobbying for the cause at every opportunity, to great success.
Yarra Ranges councillor Tim Heenan said the addition of lights was not only good for the club but had outside benefits too.
“The lights have lit up the surrounding areas, which makes it safer for people walking past the area at night,” he said.