Tennis academy opened

Originally from near Grenfell Lehane O’Neill went on to win successive state titles in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia as a junior and was named the number one women’s tennis player in 1960.

Lehane O’Neill came in as runner-up in the Australian Open from 1960 through until 1963 and was the winner of the mixed doubles in 1960, 1961 and a finalist at Wimbledon in 1961 as well as being world number seven in 1963.

Last Wednesday during the school holiday camp for kids the Academy was officially opened with the presentation of a Jan Lehane Tennis Academy jacket to Lehane O’Neill and the opportunity for children in attendance to meet the local tennis legend.

Jan was the first woman to use the double-hand backhand which the academy has highlighted on its logo.

The club also hosted a morning tea in honor of the new academy’s namesake and were very pleased with not only the turnout but the future of the club.

“We are very priviliged to have Jan as our patron as tennis in Young moves forward into a new era,” academy director and coach Colin Maher said.

And what a future it is looking to be with the recent announcement that Council are looking to partner with Tennis NSW to upgrade the courts.

"The Council, NSW tennis and our club have been in talks to upgrade the playing surface to hard courts, and we are aware that the grand plan is an amalgamation between the bowling club, squash club and us," club president Peter Brown said.