State Member for Nepean and Shadow Minister for Youth, Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, OLY, MP, visited East Gippsland earlier this week.
Mr Groth met with local business and tourism associations, as well as the Wellington and East Gippsland shire representatives.
Mr Groth was made aware of the predicament of Bairnsdale Tennis Club while visiting.
A former big-serving player on the international tennis circuit, Mr Groth was made aware the club needs a number of capital works projects activated, however was told but a stumbling block is council will not cooperate with funding applications unless the land the club occupies is passed over to the shire.
The tennis club land is currently owned by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DECCA).
The Advertiser asked Mr Groth if his party were elected at the next state election would he fund a redevelopment to the tune of around $5 million on the existing tennis club site given his tennis history and portfolio.
Mr Groth was sympathetic but no promises were given.
Vice president of the tennis club, Mark Mason, said he could not even get a promise from Mr Groth to come back to the club and play tennis.
Mr Groth had a reflective moment at the Bairnsdale club when he recalled being beaten 18 years ago by fellow junior player Marinko Matosevic in a satellite tournament.
Mr Groth went on to reach number 30 in the world as a doubles player and was ranked 53 as a singles player.
Asked whether he was keen to advance in the rough and tumble game of politics he said he would be pleased to be part of the Liberal Party leadership team in the future.
Although not dressed for tennis, Mr Groth took time to chat and have a hit with a couple of juniors who knew who he was and what he had achieved in the sports arena.
Mr Mason said he was disappointed the tennis club had recently missed a $250,000 grant to assist lighting eight courts but said the deal included the East Gippsland Shire picking up a 7.5 per cent commission for managing the lighting project and any over run on the project budget would be picked up by the club.
Mr Groth grew up in country Victoria, near Albury, prior to launching himself onto the world stage of tennis, giving him a grounding to understand what community and life in country towns is all about, something beyond the comprehension of city-based politicians.
Prior to entering politics Mr Groth worked for Channel 9 and later a stint on the TV show Postcards.
IMAGE: Vice president of Bairnsdale Tennis Club, Mark Mason (second from left), and life members John Fraser and Graeme Bromwich pictured with Sam Groth OLY, MP, State Member for Nepean and current Shadow Minister for Youth, Tourism Sport and Events, local MP Tim Bull and East Gippsland’s professional tennis coach Gavin McCoy. Mr Groth met with Bairnsdale Tennis supporters and officials to be briefed on the plight of the club on Monday afternoon.
