News
Celebrating Neale Fraser
More than 260 members, friends, tennis luminaries and notable guests enjoyed a wonderful luncheon at our recent event to celebrate the great Neale Fraser and mark 50 years of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation.
It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to catch up and renew friendships after the past few disrupted years and pleasingly the event was a sell-out.
Held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, ADCTF President Todd Woodbridge and ADCTF Patron Neale Fraser were joined by Frank Sedgman, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewell, John Newcombe, John Alexander, Paul McNamee, Pat Cash, Darren Cahill, Jason Stoltenburg, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Kratzmann and Richard Fromberg to talk about the enormous contribution Neale has made to tennis – and particularly Davis Cup tennis.
ADCTF members and Neale’s family and friends were joined by Tennis Australia Board Members, Craig Tiley and other representatives from Tennis Australia along with FFA President Giles Moretton, LTA President Sandi Proctor, and both the current and incoming AELTC Chairs Ian Hewitt and Debbie Jevens.
Focusing on Davis Cup victories celebrating milestone anniversaries, stories were recounted (and amusing anecdotes told) about 1953, 1973, 1983 and 2003.
A special commemorative booklet ‘Davis Cup King’ was generously
produced for the event by Leo Schlink and Fiona Walsh at the Herald Sun.
You can view the booklet here: Davis Cup King
And find some photos of the event here:
Vale Graeme Cumbrae-Stewart
We are saddened to announce the passing of our past Secretary Graeme Cumbrae-Stewart on Monday evening 24th August, after a lengthy illness
Our thoughts and best wishes are extended to his wife Helene during this difficult time.
Graeme was Secretary of the Foundation for 15 years, retiring in 2014 due to deteriorating health, bringing to an end a 55 year association with tennis administration through the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation, the Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club, The Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club and Tennis Victoria.
Over the years, Graeme organised many of the successful AO Luncheons and other functions for members and along with Helene attended a number of Australia’s overseas Davis Cup ties as well as many home ties.
On his retirement the Foundation published the following article which highlights the vast contribution Graeme made to tennis administration over his lifetime.
Graeme Cumbrae-Stewart
Graeme Cumbrae-Stewart OAM retired as ADCTF Secretary at the conclusion of the May Board Meeting, noting his recent health issues, but will stay on as a Director. We are fortunate that Graeme’s expertise and experience will still be available for us to draw upon following a career of over 55 years in tennis administration.
In 1959, aged a mere 18 years, Graeme accepted nomination for the Office of Assistant Secretary at the Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club when the Club Secretary had announced that he would not continue in that office without some support. Graeme was a keen tennis player whose contemporaries at Glen Iris included Hayden Rees and John Semmens but it was in tennis administration that he would make his mark.
His employment in the mid 1960’s saw him living in Brisbane but upon his return to Melbourne Graeme was promptly elected to the office of President of the Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club. He held that post for 10 years and was made a life-member of the Club in 1981. He served also as President of the Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club (covering tennis, bowls and croquet) from 1974-77 then as Secretary for 20 years from 1979-2000. A truly impressive record of service to a tennis club, but that was not all!
In 1978 Graeme, along with a number of prominent office-bearers representing metropolitan pennant clubs including Kevin Howard, Albert Jacoby, Geoff Peters and Peter Bellenger, were instrumental in forming the Victorian Tennis Association (now Tennis Victoria) after a break with the LTAV, run by Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Graeme wrote the original VTA constitution, served as Chairman of the VTA Finance Committee from 1978-1997 and was a VTA Committee Member from 1978-1991. In 1991 he was elevated to Vice-President of the VTA and held that post until 1997.
Following Graeme’s retirement from the VTA, Neale Fraser invited him over for a cup of coffee and a chat and Graeme soon found himself as Secretary of the ADCTF.
Graeme’s expertise and meticulous record keeping were a great asset to the Foundation and, as Neale would frequently remark, “Graeme writes a beautiful letter.”
He organised many of the successful AO Luncheons and other functions up until recent years, and noted that perhaps he should have been up on the stage at the last luncheon prior to his retirement, celebrating the 1957 Davis Cup victory, as he had been a ball-boy during that tie!
Over the years Graeme and his wife Helene have attended a number of Australia’s overseas Davis Cup ties and, like so many of us, he longed for the return of Australia’s glory days of continuing Davis Cup success.
When asked to nominate his greatest personal achievement as a tennis administrator his response was immediate and without equivocation: “the successful relocation of the Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club from Glen Iris to the Riversdale Golf Club in Mt Waverley”.
AO LUNCHEON 2020
Our Annual AO Luncheon celebrated 50 years of Davis Cup Captains and their important role.
The event was a resounding success, with more than 380 members and guests enjoying a wonderful lunch in the fabulous surrounds of the MCG Members Dining Room.
Neale Fraser, John Newcombe, John Fitzgerald, Pat Rafter, Wally Masur and Lleyton Hewitt were interviewed by Foundation President Todd Woodbridge.
They regaled us with stories from past ties such as how Neale Fraser conned Pat Cash into thinking his opponent was tiring in the vital rubber against Sweden to when John Newcombe wouldn’t let the Woodies sit down or take a drink at change of ends until they began playing like the Wimbledon Champions they were.
It was great stuff and we all wished that it could go on a bit longer!
As well as the Davis Cup Captains many other past-players also attended – including Pat Cash, Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, Frank Sedgman, Tony Roche, Mark Woodforde, Richard Fromberg and Geoff Masters.
Also well represented was a table of overseas dignitaries from the ITF, Grand Slam countries and the All England Club along with their hosts Jayne Hrdlicka and Craig Tiley from Tennis Australia.
The silent auction and raffle raised around $12,000 for the Foundation, with a number of unique collector’s items being hotly contested.
We thank the generosity of our donors including: Ian and Dale Johnson, Gray-Nicolls sport, Roger Federer, Treasury Wine Estates, Frank Sedgman, Anna White, Pullman Melbourne on the Park and Telstra.
The event was again co-ordinated by Robert Parker utilising the support of Anna White, Sylvia Biggar, Jean Thomas, Donna Low and Judy Pullyblank, as well as Mark Hassed who took photos on the day.
A selection of photos is below, or you can browse all of the photos on Marks website HERE
Many thanks to all who attended.
We hope you enjoyed the day – and we look forward to seeing you all at next years event.
RAFFLE WINNERS AND WIMBLEDON HIGH TEA
Our fabulous Wimbledon Function and 2019 Fundraising Raffle
On Sunday 7 July a lovely gathering of members and guests enjoyed a delicious High Tea at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
This mid-year event is a great chance for people to catch up, chat and generally enjoy themselves – and along with the Pimms, champagne and really excellent food we all enjoyed hearing from legendary tennis player Frank Sedgman as well as hearing a video message sent from Wimbledon from our President Todd Woodbridge.
This event is also where we draw our Annual Fundraising Raffle!
Once again there was a fabulous selection of prizes including tickets for 2 people to the new ATP Cup- inclusive of flights and 5* accomodation. A bottle of Grange Hermitage. AO Quarter Finals Tickets and tickets to the Foundation’s AO Lunch.
Many thanks to all of those who supported our fundraising by purchasing tickets, and particular thanks to our raffle sponsor – Ian Jane from Bentleigh Travel.
The Fundraising Raffle Winners are:
1st Prize: Elissa Rooney: Mount Martha, Victoria. (Ticket no. 751) ATP CUP PACKAGE – inc tickets, flights & accomodation for 2 people.
2nd Prize: Barry Geskus: Launceston, Tas. (Ticket no. 623) BOTTLE OF GRANGE HERMITAGE.
3rd Prize: Geoff Hall: Cohuna, Vic. (Ticket no. 895) 2 TICKETS TO AO QUARTER FINALS.
4th Prize: Denise Hanley: Raceview, Qld. (Ticket no. 1031) 2 TICKETS TO ADCTF AO LUNCHEON.
Congratulations to our winners and once again our thanks to everyone for supporting the Foundation.
NEALE FRASER RETIRES AS PRESIDENT
Neale has decided to stand down as President, although he will remain on the Board as a Director
Fifty years ago in 1969, Neale Fraser was appointed Captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team. Then 22 years ago in 1997, Neale was elected as President of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation, having served as a Board Member since 1971.
Now, at the age of 85 years, Neale has decided to stand down as President of the Foundation, although he will remain on the Board as a Director, in favour of his chosen successor, Todd Woodbridge.
Todd was appointed President at the Board meeting on the 13th May. Todd is of course well known to us all – as a former Davis Cup player, noted doubles specialist with his partner Mark Woodforde and, in more recent times, as a media commentator. He is also actively involved with Tennis Australia.
Todd brings a wealth of experience and contacts to the Board and he looks forward to helping the Foundation in its work of promoting and supporting Davis Cup tennis. He also noted that the Foundation may have an expanded role in the future as other team tennis events appeared on the calendar, including the Laver Cup and new ATP Cup.
I’m sure that all members join the Board in welcoming Todd to his new position and in sincerely thanking Neale for his extraordinary and invaluable contribution over many years.
2019 FUNDRAISING RAFFLE
Our 2019 fundraising raffle is on again, and it’s better than ever!
Prizes include an ATP Cup package with tickets, flights and 5 star accomodation – at the venue of your choice (Sydney, Perth or Brisbane), a bottle of Grange Hermitage, AO Quarter Finals tickets……. and more!
You can order your tickets today here
The raffle closes on 23rd June and will be drawn on the 7th July at our wonderful High Tea at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
High Tea at Kooyong – July 7 2019
Our mid-year event is a delicious and fun high tea to be held in the glorious surrounds of the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
Last years event was a huge success and we look forward to seeing members, as well as their family and friends, for this wonderful afternoon.
Tickets are just $77 which includes the high tea and a glass of bubbles!
November Finals Groups & Draw
Australia has drawn Belgium and Colombia for the round-robin stage of the Davis Cup Finals which will be played in Madrid in November.
The semi-finals will then be played according to the following draw between the groups:
We will advise members of further details as information regarding the new format becomes available.
Annual Report Now Available
The Foundations Annual Report as well as the Minutes of the 2017 AGM are now available on this website HERE
Members are also invited to the Annual Meeting which will be held at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club, on Tuesday 27 November at 8pm.
We look forward to seeing as many members as possible at the meeting!
ITF CHANGES TO DAVIS CUP COMPETITION
The ITF have recently made a decision to dramatically change the format of the Davis Cup
Neale Fraser, President of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation said:
“This is a desperately sad time for all of tennis – for past and present players, for the countless thousands of passionate tennis supporters and, most of all, for the Australian tennis players of the future who will no longer have the opportunity to represent their country in front of a passionate home crowd.”
“We have been beaten by money-grabbing officials and by Johnny-come-lately billionaires with little background or knowledge of the sport, no understanding of it’s history and no acknowledgment of the importance of Davis Cup to the ongoing development of tennis.”
“We would like to acknowledge and thank Tennis Australia for voting ‘no’ to the proposal, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to stop it being adopted.”
“We will advise members and supporters of the Foundation of the details of how the new competition will work as details are made available.”
Junior Membership
The Foundation has a junior membership category for members under 21 years of age.
The cost is just $40 and includes all the benefits of adult membership plus a free ADCTF Cap!
An ideal present for your children or grandchildren.
Just fill in the membership form ADCTF Junior Membership Form.
Cooper White – Junior Player Profile
The Foundation has a junior membership category for members under 21 years of age. so we thought you may be interested in reading a bit about one of our very promising junior members. His name is Cooper White, 14 year-old son of Anna White who has been an active helper of the ADCTF for a number of years.
COOPER WHITE: Player Profile
Australian Ranking: 94
World Junior ITF Ranking: 281
December Showdown:
2017 14/u Australian Championships won Singles and Doubles title
14/u National Teams Championships – Represented Victoria – winning the Sproule Stephens Cup
https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2017/12/07/white-berezov-claim-14u-australian-titles
https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2017/12/13/teams-champions-crowned-at-december-showdown
2017 14/u Australian Claycourt Championships (in Canberra) won Singles and Doubles title
Canberra Junior International (ITF) – Singles finalist & Doubles winner
https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2017/10/04/australias-top-12u-and-14u-claycourt-champions-crowned
2017 14/u Australian Grasscourt Championships (in Berri, SA) finalist in Singles, SF Doubles
In July was selected by Tennis Australia for a 6 week tour of Europe as one of four 14 year old boys. Played in France, the Netherlands and Germany, coming home with the Bavarian Junior Open Doubles win.
Represented Victoria at Pizzey Cup 2017 (April 2017)
Represented Victoria winning 2014 Bruce Cup in Darwin and 2015 in Tasmania the team finished second.
Represented Victoria at the 12u National Teams Championships in 2014 (7th) and again in 2015 where they were the winning team & won the Rod Laver Cup.
https://www.tennis.com.au/vic/news/2015/12/21/victoria-win-12u-boys-rod-laver-cup
Represented Victoria in the Super 10 Nationals 2013 – finished second
2014 – Australian Qualifier for the Nick Bollettieri Discovery Open held at the IMG Academy in Florida USA, winning the 12u Boys.
Started playing tennis at age 6 at Eaglemont Tennis Club.
On behalf of the Foundation we wish Cooper every success in pursuing his tennis career.
PHOTOS
