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Over the past couple of years, Leigh Tennis Club (LTC) has aced four gaming trust grant applications to help pay for upgrades to its courts and clubhouse.
With its membership roughly doubling over the last two years from 80 to 160, the improvements have allowed the club to keep up with its increasing popularity, hosting inter-town tournaments and serve the local community.
The club received: $4624 from Pub Charity Limited in November 2022 to strengthen the fence around the courts; $20,000 from New Zealand Community Trust in November 2023 for upgrades to the clubhouse and deck; and $20,000 from Pub Charity in April 2024 for clubhouse improvements.
Its latest grant was $10,000 from New Zealand Community Trust in January for a clubroom upgrade, including a toilet with a changing room as well as a roof extension.
LTC president Marie-Dominique Lennan says they want to create an environment that members, guests and the community can enjoy.
“The clubhouse building is actually half of an old Plunket New Zealand room, which was relocated to the site decades ago,” she says.
“It’s probably been here for 50 years, and hadn’t been changed until we started doing all of these upgrades.”
LTC committee member Robbie Blair says the grant applications have been successful because they’ve shown the upgrade work is not only for the benefit of the club, but also the wider community.
“We let Leigh School use the courts for kids’ activities and hockey practice, for example – that’s all part of it – everyone is welcome.
“To get the grant we also need to show our members are going to be chipping in and doing work on the club, that we’ll be contributing and not just sitting on our hands.
“We painted the kitchen ourselves and now it looks a million dollars.”
Securing funding other than the grants is also important, he says.
The club has received support from local companies including Mahurangi Sheet Metal & Engineering, Floorwise Matakana and Guthrie Bowron Warkworth.
Blair says once the toilet, changing room and roof extension have been completed, the club wants to put up a shade sail over the deck.
“My next plan, MD (Marie-Dominique) doesn’t even really know about it yet, is to donate some shrubs for a hedge just to the height of the fence between us and Leigh Bowling Club next door. I’d love that.”
