THE grass is greener at Moulamein as it bucks a trend by resurrecting a rural sporting club.
Where many clubs have folded or in recess, Moulamein Lawn Tennis Club is serving it up in the Northern District Lawn Tennis Association with a senior Division 2 and junior team.
Club president Darcy Hare said it was a great outcome for the town.
“It’s pretty exciting that a country community of 300-odd people, who live in a remote part of the Riverina, can be welcomed into the association,” he said.
Hare has for most of his life played in the NDLTA for the likes of Barham, Murrabit and Wakool, but it was over beers at the end of last season when the idea emerged to get Moulamein back into the swing.
“We’ve always had the club there, it’s been there for over 60 years,” he said.
“It really hasn’t been looked after or had players there consistently for a good 10 to 15 years.
“I thought we will have a go and put the feelers out.
“There was already a committee in place to keep it running and the ABN active.”
The senior side played on Saturday and secured its fourth win from as many rounds to start the 2024-25 season.
“Another big part of it was having coaching in town for a few years and they get something like 25 kids to these clinics,” Hare said.
“It’s just unreal in the town like Moulamein.”
Hare looked at the court and knew it was time to get serious.
“I thought, coaching is fun and everything … but what’s the point if you’re not playing on Saturdays,” he said.
“Like you’re just being coached for the sake of learning tennis, but if you’re actually getting that many kids there and all having fun, then (they should have) the same as what I was able to do as a kid and go and play on a Saturday.
“I wanted to make sure that was available for other kids in the area.
“I can go and play tennis for Barham or Murrabit, it doesn’t matter, but those kids that are local in Moulamein might not have the opportunity.”
The club had 25 members on the books and expected the support to grow.
Hare said the club would also apply for a NSW Government grant.
“If we can get a really good following this first year and people are keen to come back for a second year, then we will apply for this grant,” he said.
“We have had really good numbers and good competition.
“One person said playing tennis on Saturdays was like going to a big garden party because it’s a great set-up, everyone’s drinking and laughing and having fun and playing sport and being really social.”
Hare was optimistic the club could enter a second senior team next season.
Although born and bred in Moulamein, Hare said his home club was Wakool.
“Mum and dad used to talk of there being 100 people to play tennis with in Moulamein and most of those people – definitely families – are people that are still there,” he said.
“So a lot of the last names and the next generation have come back to play tennis where their parents and grandparents used to play.
“In an era where there’s clubs closing down all the time and we can get one fired up … it’s a real team effort because I’m not doing it by myself.”
