On the Grapevine: Quality grass courts a big drawcard for Cobram

As well as local and regional players, many journeyed from Essendon, Ivanhoe, Northcote and Deepdene for the opportunity to play on the Santa Ana couch grass, which stood up to the test of ‘best of the best’ in natural court surfaces.

One Melbourne team is led by Ian Robinson, who has been travelling to Cobram since he was 19 years old and has brought his family and Essendon Tennis Club members every year.

In recognition of their long-term support, members of the Robinson family were each presented with Cobram Legend badges by the CLTC tournament committee.

Now aged 77 and attending his 58th tournament in Cobram, Ian suffered an injury on the court during this year’s event.

But over the years, he and his wife, Lyn, have rated among Melbourne’s elite pennant players.

Lyn still competes in national veterans’ events.

Visiting Cobram each year is a must for the Essendon crew, many of whom have competed for a great many years — yet perhaps not quite as long as the Robinsons.

In total, they have clocked up a total of 185 years between them: Ian (58 years), Lyn (52 years), their son Mitch (35 years) and daughter Carly (40 years).

Local winners over the weekend were:

B-grade Mixed Doubles: Marika Newey and Anthony Harvey.

Under-16 Girls Doubles: Ava Ross-Soden and Ella Janssens.

The tournament weekend requires a huge amount of effort from committee members before and during the event, plus an army of volunteers to help cater for more than 400 people over the three days.

One person who works consistently hard during the hottest time of the year to bring the 16 courts into line for the tennis enthusiasts to battle it out is greens director Greg Dunn.

A qualified greenkeeper, Greg has been responsible for the Cobram courts for the past 15 years.

He’s extremely proud to see how the courts stood up to intense use after so many weeks of consistently high temperatures and little or no rain.

Greg works on the courts three to four days each week, and in the lead-up to the event generally works six days.

Alongside a solid watering once a week, he also needs to give the ‘grass a drink’ midway through the week during excessively hot periods.

His two children, Luke, 13, and Caitlin, 18, can often be found helping their dad out with the line marker on the 16 courts, which can be quite time-consuming.

But Greg is not only the greens director at CLTC.

He is also in charge of the three greens at Cobram Bowls Club, which are also recognised around the region as among the best of the natural grass greens and certainly more popular than artificial playing surfaces.

Greg has been responsible for the Cobram greens for the past 17 years and members are rightly proud of their club and what it offers bowlers around the region.

The week following the tournament, CLTC welcomed a group of 41 tennis players from Anglesea Tennis Club for five days.

Accommodated at the RACV Resort, this was the group’s third year in Cobram.

After trialling courts at Corowa one year and Yarrawonga over two years, the past three years in Cobram have offered the right mix for the group.

The group plans to return again next year.

Each morning it’s tennis until noon, followed by barefoot bowls, croquet, pickle ball, golf and even dragon boat racing if the weather is suitable on Lake Mulwala.

Cobram’s economy receives a marvellous boost with the fun-loving active group from down south, who dine out each night and at lunchtime, too.

There is also time for a little retail therapy when sporting activities are finished for the day!

All up, Cobram Lawn Tennis Club and its magnificent tennis courts, quality sporting facilities on both sides of the river and hospitality offered throughout the district have the potential to draw so many more people and groups to the area.

We just need to promote what we have a lot more.

It can be a win-win for everyone — visitors and local businesses alike!