History – Sport takes centre court

After their arrival in 1862, the Albertland settlers formed a Mutual Improvement Society to look after the health and betterment of the district. Their ideology was that “recreation for mind and body would do much to reduce the doctor’s labour”. Everyone in the district was encouraged to participate in sports or attend socials and meetings to eliminate what was described as the “sameness of country life”.
In the early days, sport was not just for the men and in 1897, only four years after women won the right to vote in New Zealand, there were several young ladies holding key positions on the committee of the Port Albert Tennis Club. This was a game for both young men and women, and several grass courts could be found around the district. However, the earliest community-owned court was at the ‘crossways’ near the site of the original public hall that was destroyed by fire in 1912. When the recreation grounds were built in Wellsford Valley Road, a new grass court was added, closely followed by a second court to host matches against neighbouring districts.

The grass courts were very difficult to maintain. Frequently, new topsoil had to be added and more grass seed sown to keep the courts in good playing order. A roller was often borrowed from the nearby cricket club and before the start of each new season, the lines would have to be marked with whiting bought from the local store, Shepherd & Co. Just prior to World War I, the committee began fundraising, holding a social at the nearby Druid’s Hall, and enough money was raised to lay asphalt on the courts in 1914. The war had quite an impact on the club and reading an entry in the Minute Book from 1914, the secretary wrote, “We earnestly hope for a speedy conclusion of the war, the safe return in perfect health of our brave absent members, and a revival of enthusiasm of our sport.”

It is very likely in the early 1900s that the young women of Port Albert aspired to be like the great tennis player Kate Nunneley, the first female sports star in New Zealand. Kate, originally from Leicestershire, immigrated with her family in 1895 after the death of her father. Having already won several junior titles in England, she went on to win 32 national titles in New Zealand, a record that remains unchallenged today by any player in the history of New Zealand tennis. During her successful career, she would play in very restrictive clothing, a full-length skirt, a blouse with ‘leg of mutton’ sleeves, a cinch waistband, a tie, and a straw boater hat. After her tennis career ended, she returned to England as a guest at Wimbledon in 1949 and gave her unreserved support of the ‘sensationally’ brief attire worn by player ‘Gorgeous Gussie’ Moran.