Game, set, match

from w
I was pleased to see an article about our Geelong East Uniting Tennis club relocating after the disaster early in the year by the Uniting Church selling off our tennis courts and clubroom.  The article in Crosslight is moderate as it should be as the head office has offered a nice cheque to help with relocating and we mustn't damage that eh! Our sons and grandsons continue to play with this club, at the new location and occasionally practice in the nearby park near the soccer ground.

Game, set, match

BY CROSSLIGHT ⋅ JULY 6, 2014 ⋅ POST A COMMENT

FILED UNDER  GEELONG EAST UNITING CHURCH TENNIS CLUB, PROPERTY SALES, UOF

When the Geelong East Uniting Church Tennis club (pictured) heard the news their beloved courts were to be sold as part of the Uniting our future process, Neil Lamond was at a loss about what to do next.

As the founder of the club, Mr Lamond has long been the backbone of the tightknit community and was determined to keep the club going.

“We’d been at the Denman Street property for 33 years,” Mr Lamond said.

“So it was a big shock – we didn’t really know what we were going to do.”

Identifying another, now disused, set of local tennis courts was the glimmer of hope the club needed.

Discussions and support from the Geelong City Council, along with a synod relocation grant, has facilitated the tennis club to move to a new location on Tanner Street in neighbouring Breakwater.

“It was a heck of a lot of hard work over a fair bit of time. But we’re here now and this is a good story of what’s happened in a divestment process that has succeeded,” Mr Lamond said.

Mr Lamond is quick to point out the efforts and support from the chairperson of the Presbytery of Port Phillip West, Rev Sani Vaeluaga, and many others in the church community who were key drivers in ensuring the future of the club.

For Mr Lamond and other members, the space is more than just a tennis club – it is an important missional link to the wider community.

“The church is changing; the church needs to get out in the world these days,” Mr Lamond said.

“We feel we have a Christian message – we’re not like most tennis clubs where winning is everything.

“We’ve got no star tennis players here but the fellowship is marvellous.

“Win or lose, our people are just happy to play.”

And go to http://listeningpost.victas.uca.org.au/geelong-east-uniting-church-tennis-club-moves
 which includes two videos.

Geelong East Uniting Church Tennis Club moves

For decades the Geelong East Uniting Church Tennis Club’s Denman Street property has provided a space for community-get-togethers, afternoon teas and of course tennis. Many in the club feel that as well as being a community tennis group, the club has long acted as a ‘church out in the world’ of significant missional value.

When the club heard the news that their courts were likely to be sold as part of the Uniting our future program, Neil Lamond was at a loss for what to do.

As the founder of the club, Mr Lamond had long been the backbone of the tightknit community. “We’d been at the Denman Street property for 33 years,” Mr Lamond said. “So it was a big shock – we didn’t really know what we were going to do.”

After the club was notified of the potential sale there were opportunities to present a case for the missional value of the club to both presbytery and the Uniting our future Project Control Group. However it was ultimately decided that the sale would go ahead.

Identifying another, disused, set of local tennis courts was the glimmer of hope the club needed. Discussions and support from the Geelong City Council, along with Uniting our future relocation funds, has since facilitated the club to move to a new location on Tanner Street in neighbouring Breakwater.

As with many church groups affected by property sales, this has been a difficult time. And despite a broad awareness of the church’s financial situation, the loss of property long associated with a sense of community is not an easy process.

“I realise the enormous debt incurred by the Uniting Church had to be paid for – we’ve done our bit towards that and I guess we’re proud of that,” Mr Lamond said. “It was just unfortunate that it had to be us.”

For Mr Lamond and other members, the club remains more than just a tennis club – it is an important missional link to the wider community.

“The church is changing; the church needs to get out in the world these days,” Mr Lamond said. “We feel we have a Christian message – we’re not like most tennis clubs where winning is everything.

“We’ve got no star tennis players here but the fellowship is marvellous.”

Mr Lamond is quick to point out the efforts and support from the chairperson of the Presbytery of Port Phillip West, Rev Sani Vaeluaga, and many others in the church community who were key drivers in ensuring the future of the club.

Mr Vaeluaga has noted that this difficult time has also presented many opportunities to partner with other community groups in a much more intentional way. As well as improving the new site, key areas of possible collaboration have been identified with neighbouring sports clubs and community groups.

“We’re looking at other way of connecting with the community and using this facility as a way of connecting and even proclaiming the Gospel. As it turns out every crisis is an opportunity to discover new things and new opportunities.”