2026 Australia Day Winners … Nola Wilson and John Bracewell
On Sunday January 25th 2026 we had a social tennis tournament.
Congratulations to winners Nola Wilson & John Bracewell.
Alex Foster “Community Citizen of the Year” Award
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our own MPTC Legend, Mr Alex Foster, who on Monday was honoured by being awarded the City of Melville’s “Community Citizen of the Year”. Alex won this award despite many other worthy nominations.
Please see the article extract from the CoM below:
27 January 2026
We’re pleased to announce the winners of our Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Award.
Congratulations to our Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Award winners and our newest citizens, named at a special City of Melville event on Monday, 26 January 2026.
Community Citizen of the Year is Alex Foster, recognising his extraordinary contribution to sport, volunteering and community life in Melville.
For more than 30 years, Alex has been a driving force behind the Melville Palmyra Tennis Club, serving as President for over two decades and contributing thousands of volunteer hours.
Senior Community Citizen of the Year is Lynda Chapman, applauded for her long-standing contribution to arts and culture in Melville.
She co-founded South Side Symphony Orchestra and helped build it from 27 players to more than 65, creating an inclusive space for musicians of all ages.
Young Community Citizen of the Year is the dynamic Sascha Finlay-Collins, who is recognised for her strong leadership, particularly in environmental action and youth engagement.
Sascha played a key role in delivering the Youth Landcare for Black Cockatoos program at Piney Lakes Reserve, planning and delivering sessions while building a welcoming space for young people to connect.
The Willagee Community Centre-Youth Drop-in service won the Active Citizenship Awards for its outstanding contribution to young people.
The program delivers strong outcomes in education, multicultural connection, sport, recreation and youth development.
Main picture caption. From left: Mayor Katy Mair with Auspire Award winners Alex Foster and Lynda Chapman, and CEO Gail Bowman.
Christmas Carols at Melville Tennis Centre
Last Sunday evening, our tennis club was transformed into a festive haven as members, families, and friends gathered for our annual Christmas Carols Night. It was a wonderful celebration of community, tennis, and holiday spirit, and a perfect way to wrap up the year together.
As darkness deepened, everyone moved courtside and onto the clubhouse lawn for carols by candlelight. With candles flickering and songbooks in hand, voices rose together in classic Christmas favourites. Children sang at the top of their lungs, parents harmonised, and even a few shy singers were soon swept up in the warm, nostalgic atmosphere. The glow of the candles, the sound of carols, and the buzz of conversation created a truly magical scene.
A BIG thank you to Sandra Rule
We have many fantastic volunteers in the MPTC Family. We’ve included an excerpt from the Tennis West News Magazine below, which came out today.
Tennis West has recognised, State-Wide, the efforts of one of our own.
A BIG Thank you, Sandra, for all your efforts – what a fabulous effort.
Tennis West is delighted to recognise Sandra Rule as our Club Corner Volunteer of the Month, celebrating her outstanding contribution to the Melville Palmyra Tennis Club (MPTC) community.
Around four years ago, Sandra took it upon herself to introduce a comprehensive recycling program at MPTC, identifying an opportunity to support both sustainability and the club’s long-term development. Working collaboratively with the other clubs that share the facility, Sandra liaised to ensure a coordinated approach and arranged for recycling bins to be strategically positioned and clearly labelled across courtside areas, as well as indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sandra’s commitment didn’t stop there; she personally collects the bottles and cans on a weekly basis and transports them to the recycling depot, ensuring the program continues to run smoothly. All funds raised through the initiative are reinvested directly back into the tennis club, benefitting the entire membership.
Since the program began, Sandra’s efforts have raised almost $10,000, which has been used to purchase new equipment, upgrade furniture, and help maintain the excellent facilities enjoyed by Tennis, Padel and Pickleball members alike.
Sandra’s initiative, dedication and consistency are a shining example of the impact volunteers can have at the club level. Her efforts are genuinely appreciated by everyone at MPTC, and Tennis West proudly thanks her for her fantastic contribution to the sport and her community.
Serve Up Some Holiday Cheer With Us!
Melville Palmyra Tennis Club Christmas Celebrations – Sunday, 21st December
Join us at the Melville Tennis Centre for a joyful day of festive fun! All members, extended families, friends and the local community are warmly invited to celebrate the season together.
Here’s what’s happening:
2:00 PM Xmas Hamper Tournament. Enjoy a friendly social tennis competition with hamper prizes for the winners. Each player is asked to contribute a $10 item toward the prize hampers.
5:00 PM Picnic Tea & BBQ. After tennis, relax with a BYO picnic (food only – drinks available at the bar). BBQs will be fired up and ready to use. We recommend family, friends and guests arrive around this time to join the festivities.
6:00 PM Santa’s Arrival. Santa will swing by with lollies for all the well-behaved boys and girls!
7:00 PM Christmas Carols at Sunset. As the sun sets in the west, gather around and sing along to your favourite carols, performed live by a festive three-piece band.
Raffle Prizes: Two legs of Christmas ham – tickets $5 each or 3 for $10
A giant Christmas stocking filled with chocolates and lollies – tickets $2 each
Lightbulb Skills Keeping Active and Well Program
Mark and Russell helped participants try pickleball and making sure the activities suited everyone’s abilities. See the testimonial from Megan Hancock from Lightblub Skills.
Easter Cup was held on Saturday
Women’s and men’s handicap event
We held a very successful Handicap event on the 9th of March with the women’s and men’s events being held.
We had six women playing, with each pair winning one doubles match each. It went down to percentages, and Ann and Debra won the event. Well done, girls and those who played in the event.
The men’s event had four pairs playing—a great number. All played many great shots, and two super tiebreakers played. However, there was one pair that stood out with three wins. Peter B and Mitch, well done on your win.
Lovebirds Nola and Chris Wilson reminisce as meeting place Melville Palmyra Tennis Club reaches turns 60
The merger that brought together two tennis clubs 60 years ago did so much more for two of its foundation members, Nola and Chris Wilson.
As part of the countdown to Melville Palmyra Tennis Club’s milestone celebrations, the Wilsons this week took a trip down memory lane to share how the union kicked off 54 wonderful years of marriage.
Chris, 76, began playing the sport at the Palmyra Tennis Club when he was just 10.
Nola, 75, first played at Melville Tennis Club when she was 12.
“With the Melville council forcing the two clubs to amalgamate, we met, so the council has a lot to answer for,” Chris told PerthNow.
The pair were just friends until 16-year-old Chris went to extraordinary lengths to have 15-year-old Nola by his side at a wedding.
“My cousin was getting married and I needed a partner, we were friends through the tennis club but that was the first time I asked her on a date,” Chris said.
“I didn’t have a licence and Nola didn’t have a phone and I lived in Mosman Park, so Mum and Dad drove me to Nola’s place in Melville and I knocked on the door and asked if she wanted to come to the wedding with me.
“I was nervous thinking ‘what if she says no’.”
Luckily for Chris, she said yes.
At the wedding, Nola surprised Chris on the dance floor and in Nola’s words “that was that”.
“We were sitting there at the wedding and I thought, should I ask her to dance,” Chris said.
“So we got up on the dance floor and I thought wow.
“She completely swept me off my feet. I always said I wouldn’t marry someone who couldn’t dance because I loved dancing.”
Chris and Nola married seven years later in a hall opposite the tennis club and over the next 54 years, have proudly watched each other, their children and grandchildren hitting on the courts next to Melville Reserve.
“We call this our second home, it has always been our second home,” Nola said.
“Our kids grew up calling everyone in the club aunty and uncle, I don’t know what I would have done without this tennis club,” Chris said.
The couple have lived in Kardinya for years now but still choose to travel to Melville despite there being another club in their home suburb.
“The thing that has kept me at the club is the people,” Chris said.
“It is only a building and they are only tennis courts but the people keep me coming back.”
“We always say we are a family club, we have always been a family club, promoting people to get involved in the sport,
“With the anniversary coming up, we have families who haven’t been involved for 45 years coming because that is the connection and type of friendships which have been made through this club.”
Chris is the club’s longest-serving life member and the host of the anniversary party being organised for Sunday, February 23, where the newly renovated clubhouse will feature live music, finger food and drinks for past and present members to celebrate the 60-year milestone.
“Social functions have always been a huge part of the club, creating harmony and friendships amongst members and getting people involved,” Chris said.
“This event is another way people can feel part of the Melville Palmyra Tennis Club family.”
Melvillle Palmyra Tennis Club 60th Anniversary
