AusLeisure

The $6 million Heffron Park Tennis Centre located in Maroubra's Heffron Park celebrated its one year anniversary with a small COVID-safe celebration yesterday (8th September 2020).

Officially opened on Saturday 10th August 2019 by former Mayor Kathy Neilson, the Council facility features an acrylic surface show court, nine synthetic and turf courts and a clubhouse with kiosk and changing facilities.

Sydney Sports Management Group (SSMG) runs the facility under a lease arrangement from Council. SSMG Chief Executive Richard Price, facility Manager Matt Johnson and current Randwick Mayor Danny Said attended the celebration marking the one-year milestone.

Over the past year the centre has gone from strength to strength, introducing a variety of programs and activities for the community such as:

• Tennis centre members (of which the centre has now more than 100), can play mornings and afternoons with friends and family.
• The ANZ Hotshots lessons, which cater for children as young as three-years-old, run almost daily with more than 200 children taking part in the program.
• Social tennis groups, who have played for years at what was the Matraville Sports Centre now play at the Heffron Centre and enjoy a hit and some fitness followed by a cup of coffee, morning tea and a chat.
• Adult lessons are offered a couple of nights of week and are open to beginners who are keen to learn and those who want to improve their skills. Plus, Cardio Tennis is also on offer
• Friday nights is the Centre's junior competition, with older children putting their training to the test and challenging themselves to improve.
• The Eastern Suburbs Tennis Association competition is held on Sundays for some competitive match play.
• School holiday camps and private lessons.

The Centre is equipped with a wheelchair accessible court, and regularly hosted the Special Olympics players before the COVID-19 pandemic hit - something the centre would like to get back to soon.

Sydney Sports Management Group has adapted and made changes in order to continue to host as much tennis as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still taking restrictions and guidelines into consideration.

The Centre is community focused aiming to provide opportunity for anyone who wishes to play tennis. Inclusion and the love of the game are what makes Heffron Tennis Centre a popular and special place to enjoy the game.

More upgrade work is planned nearby with Randwick Council close to lodging a Development Application for the construction of the Heffron Centre - a new community indoor sports centre, gymnastic centre and new home to the Rabbbitohs.

This new, state of the art sporting facility will be located close to the Heffron Tennis Centre and will be the final piece in the Heffron Masterplan that was originally produced in 2004.

Image top: Randwick Mayor Danny Said and Rabbbitohs mascot Reggie the Rabbit at the first anniversary celebrations for the Heffron Park Tennis Centre and image above of Heffron Park Tennis Centre.

Related Articles

26th August 2020 - Grassroots to coexist with South Sydney Rabbitohs at new Heffron multi-purpose sport facility

4th August 2020 - Tennis roadshow delivers 30,000 new racquets to primary school students to get them active

15th July 2020 - Free smart locker technology installed at Sydney’s Coogee and Maroubra beaches

28th May 2020 - Tennis ‘a sport that can be played with social distancing in mind’

1st May 2020 - New height-adjustable netball posts installed at Heffron Park in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs

20th April 2020 - Randwick Council amends Coronavirus closures to make beaches available for exercise

21st March 2020 - Resurfacing works completed for Shoalhaven Tennis Courts

23rd January 2020 - ‘Sports rorts’ scandal: Revelation that upmarket golf, rowing and tennis clubs received major grants

30th December 2019 - Tennis legend Ken Rosewall unveils Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre upgrades

24th December 2019 - Blacktown Tennis Centre Stanhope launches blind and low vision tennis coaching program

14th November 2019 - Paddle Australia partners with Sporting Schools Program

25th October 2019 - Paddle Australia go live with GoMembership events platform

7th October 2019 - Sydney Padel facility launch heralds potential growth for the short format racquet sport

4th October 2019 - Sydney Sports Management Group moves forward with management of new Heffron Park Tennis Centre

10th August 2019 - Tennis NSW President survives no-confidence vote

13th January 2019 - Research shows tennis as best sport for increasing life expectancy

4th November 2018 - Tennis World Chatswood named top metropolitan club by Tennis NSW

21st December 2017 - Seven NSW NRL clubs to share $50 million for ‘Centres of Excellence’

5th June 2017 - Sport NSW teams with Randwick Council and UNSW to present Girls Get Active Day

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.