The Grenville Tennis Club is located 15 kms south of Buninyong on the Buninyong-Mt. Mercer Road. The courts are situated next to the Grenville Recreation Hall amongst a beautiful rural setting.
Grenville was one of the founding tennis clubs in the Garibaldi and District Tennis Association. This competition was established in 1933 with teams from Grenville, Scotsburn, Garibaldi and the Buninyong Methodists Church. After World War 2, this continued as the Buninyong & District Tennis Association. Tennis has since been one of the key sporting and social activities for the Grenville community.
The club has a proud history, having won topships in both senior & junior grades over the years. Various leadingship photographs and pennants are on display in the Grenville Recreation Hall. Grenville won its last senior premiership in 1992 and appeared in its last Grand Final in 2005.
Celebrating 75 Years of Grenville Tennis was held on Sunday the 16th of March, 2008. Around 100 people attended a barbeque lunch, which was followed by presentations in the Grenville Recreation Hall.
The Grenville Tennis Club was delighted with the attendance, particularly considering the very hot weather experienced on the day. Not only was there a great turn out of local residents, there were also many others who travelled great distances to attend the event. This only goes to show how popular tennis has been in Grenville over the last 75 years.
The day proved to be a great success, with many of Grenvilles past players catching up to reminisce on their playing days. Despite the heat, some even ventured out on to the courts to rekindle their old tennis skills. It was also a significant occasion for the broader tennis community, with many of the Buninyong & District Tennis Association life members in attendance.
As part of the presentations, a commemorative plaque was officially unveiled by two former Grenville players in Joyce Thorne and John Cameron. The plaque was awarded to the Grenville Tennis Club at the Buninyong & District Tennis Association 75 year reunion in November 2007. This acknowledges Grenville as the only club to have played every season in the history of the association.
Peter Griffiths played tennis with Grenville for some years and was also the Record Secretary of the Buninyong & District Tennis Association for 20 seasons. Peter presented the club with the scorecard from the 1986/87 senior B1 premiership, along with a net winder from the former Mt. Mercer school tennis court. These were accepted by the Grenville Tennis Club’s longest serving player and life member, Mike Colvin.
Peter and Mike are both life members of the Buninyong & District Tennis Association.
Commencing with four clubs in 1933, the Buninyong & District Tennis Association continues 75 years later with 23 member clubs. The history of each club was on display in the hall, along with sale of the Buninyong & District Tennis Association history book and DVD.
Many thanks go to all involved in organising the day, as well as those who provided food, worked on the barbeque and helped in the kitchen. A special thanks also to Peter Griffiths for his initiative in establishing the event, as well the work he put in to its organisation.