It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve as President this past year. IDJTA is a community-based, family-oriented club, underpinned by our core values of Fun, Fitness, Fair Play, and Friendship.
My family and I have proudly been part of this club for over 20 years. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience – not just for me, but for my children and wider family.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all members, parents, and supporters who have chosen IDJTA as their place to learn, play, and enjoy tennis. A special thank you goes to the many volunteers and committee members who generously dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to the development of junior players and the club.
At IDJTA, we remain committed to keeping tennis affordable and accessible for everyone. This commitment is reflected in our competitive pricing for memberships and court hire, as well as our ongoing partnerships with local schools, which allow students to access our facilities for training and competitions. Thanks to the outstanding work of Robyn and Russell, who take great care in maintaining our gardens, grounds and tennis courts.
As we grow and improve, it’s important that we strike the right balance—ensuring our services are delivered professionally and efficiently, without becoming cost-prohibitive for our community. Maintaining this balance is crucial to preserving our inclusive and community-driven spirit, while also meeting the evolving expectations of our members.
Junior Programs & Development Pathway
Our Saturday morning Hotshots coaching (for ages 4–12) continues to thrive, recently experiencing a 40% increase in participation, boosted by the release of additional Sport and Recreation vouchers from the Queensland Government. A huge thank you to the parents, grandparents, and carers who support their children in this program.
Thanks also to our amazing coaching team: Archie, Eddie, Lucky, Gary, Marty, Stan and our assistant coaches. Their passion and commitment are invaluable. A sincere thank you to our volunteers Cathy, Emma, Glenda, Kristy, Melissa, Nancy and Robyn – your ongoing support for the Hotshots program is greatly appreciated.
Our Saturday morning in-house development fixtures remain a safe and encouraging environment for juniors to learn essential match play skills—singles, doubles, court positioning, etiquette, line calls, and scoring. These are foundational skills necessary for stepping up to Friday night tennis leagues and junior circuit competitions, where parental involvement on and off court is not permitted. Thank you to the parents who help score and support these sessions.
Our dedicated coach Stan continues to offer private coaching seven days a week, including early mornings, afternoons and evenings. His tireless commitment, along with that of our other coaches, provides invaluable one-on-one development for our juniors.
Special thanks to our fixture coordinators: Gary, Mel, Russell (and me), and Stan – your coordination keeps our programs running smoothly.
Tuesday Night Women & Girls Tennis Program
In Term 2, we were proud to offer free coaching and social play sessions for women and girls, regardless of experience level. Valued at $300 per participant, this initiative provided a fantastic opportunity to stay active, learn new skills, meet others, and enjoy tennis in a supportive and relaxed environment. Thank you to Emma and Kristy coordinating and our coaches Archie, James, Mel Tomlins and Marty.
The program was a great success and reflected our commitment to making tennis more inclusive and accessible for women and girls in our club and community.
Our Growth & Achievements
Our membership base has grown from 530 to 678 members, thanks in large part to the recent Sport and Rec voucher release. In addition to our members, an estimated 1,500 additional participants access our courts through casual hire and school programs.
In my two years as President, I’m proud to have:
- Secured a 10-year lease with Ipswich City Council (ICC) within three months of the previous lease expiring – a marked improvement from the three-year wait a decade ago. Thank you to Kristy White for driving these negotiations.
- Lobbied and successfully secured Ipswich City Council to deliver new lighting infrastructure on our top courts, including LED lights, new poles, and compliant electrical work, worth $750,000, completed early 2025.
- Secured $7,500 in Active Women and Girls grant funding for a tennis program with free court hire and coaching in Term 2, 2025.
- Secured $2,500 in grant funding for new tennis equipment and nets.
- Lobbied and successfully secured $788,000 in funding from the Queensland Government for all 8 courts replacements – including sub-surface works, drainage, new playing surfaces, fencing, and on-court equipment. We are currently sourcing a Project Manager to oversee the project and expect delivery late 2026 or 2027.
Building a Stronger Future for IDJTA
The key to our club’s long-term success lies in strengthening the junior development pathway. It is vital that our coaches continue to play an active and central role through regular coaching programs, squads, fixtures, and competitions to support the growth and progression of our junior players.
There are several initiatives that could further enhance our club and community:
- Tuesday Night Women & Girls Tennis Program: Encourage participation, social connection, and development among female players of all ages and abilities.
- School Holiday Clinics: Continue to engage juniors during breaks with fun, structured coaching programs that develop skills and foster a love of the game.
- Cardio Tennis: Promote fitness and enjoyment with dynamic, social tennis sessions that cater to all levels and keep members active and involved.
- Ipswich Tennis Tournaments: Bring back tournaments to provide players with more opportunities to compete and improve with the wider tennis community.
- Build 4 Half Courts: Establish 4 half courts with lights to support Hot Shots coaching for young players and possibilities for multi-sport use such as Pickleball.
- Clubhouse: Construct a club house between the top and bottom courts to serve as a central hub, offering modern amenities and facilities enhancing the overall member and visitor experience.
These ideas represent exciting opportunities to grow participation, enhance our facilities, and build a more inclusive and vibrant club community. None of this can happen without the help of our amazing volunteers. Whether you can spare an hour a week or take on a specific operational role or a project, every bit of support makes a real difference. We’re looking for people with a range of skills and interests — from assisting in coaching, coordinating fixtures and events to communications and maintenance — so there’s a place for everyone to get involved. Join us and help shape the future of our club!
Final Note
I encourage all members to continue enjoying our tennis centre, contributing to our community, and supporting the ongoing development of tennis.
The club is in a strong financial position, and with the capital replacement of our tennis courts on the horizon, we are entering an exciting new chapter.
I also believe this is an ideal time to welcome new perspectives and ideas into our committee, encouraging progressive thinking and a renewed commitment to the future growth and inclusivity of the club.
Thank you for the privilege of serving this amazing club.
Warm regards,
Matthew White
President
IDJTA