Tennis professional Kelvin MacLean and his wife Debbie were welcomed to the region this week by Bairnsdale Tennis Club president Margaret Supplitt and members of the
club’s executive.
MacLean will take up the role of club coach in January 2026.
An experienced tennis coach and accomplished player, MacLean held an ATP ranking in his early playing years.
As a junior, he represented Victoria in the Linton Cup, placing him among the state’s top-ranked players at the time.
He later competed in State grade
for several Melbourne clubs before
travelling extensively overseas with his tennis career.
MacLean has coached for 40 years, beginning his coaching journey alongside Peter McNamara when Melbourne Park first opened.
His career has taken him around
the world with coaching roles in
China, Singapore and Germany, as well as Tasmania, also spending nine years as resident coach at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.
MacLean is retiring from his current role at Caulfield Park Tennis Club and will begin full-time in the district when school resumes next year.
He will also run a junior holiday program at the Bairnsdale Tennis Club in January.
Explaining the move, MacLean
said he was keen to establish a successful business and share his knowledge and experience with the club and wider district.
A keen fisherman, he said the region’s lakes, rivers and nearby mountains were also a major attraction.
Kelvin plans to focus on developing local juniors, supporting them at tournaments and engaging club players
of all standards.
“It’s something I know a bit about,”
he said.
