24 Mar 2016 Wangaratta Chronicle, Wangaratta VIC (General News) by Simone Kerwin TWO local tennis clubs will be able to expand their offer in the wake of a State Government funding announcement. Boorhaman Tennis Club, and the Merriwa Park-based Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club (WLTC), were both winners when Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) revealed during a visit to Wangaratta last week that they would share in $95,000 through a Community Sports Infrastructure grant. WLTC president Geoff Davidson said the funding would enable six grass and two synthetic courts in Merriwa Park to be lit. That gives us a lot more flexibility to run events at night, and particularly during the week, Mr Davidson said. When you have hot weather like weve had recently, being able to play tennis in cooler conditions in the evening is attractive, and people are so busy that sport during the week is becoming more and more popular. This offers more scope for us. The Boorhaman club will use the State Government funding to light and resurface its courts. This means amazing things can happen at Boorhaman, club secretary Maureen Walker said. She said the project would make the courts safer, which would help encourage more children to play tennis, and ensure the club remained a community focus. It gives us more scope, because particularly in the rural sector, you need the flexibility of people being able to finish their farm jobs and then come along with their family, Mrs Walker said. The club also hopes to introduce cardio tennis, a high energy fitness activity which combines the best features of the sport with cardiovascular exercise. A typical cardio tennis activity involves six to eight players on a tennis court using an agility ladder, cardio balls, music, and heart rate monitors. Wed also like to introduce Fast4 Tennis, which has become very popular, Mrs Walker said. Contributions from the two tennis clubs and the Rural City of Wangaratta will help bring the projects to fruition. Caption Text: HOORAY: Among those rapt about Boorhaman Tennis Clubs funding win are (back) Brodie Tyers, Maureen Walker, Barry Byrne, Darby Parr, Leah Walker, (front) Kyle Tyers, Ollie Parr, Hayden Tyers, Shantelle Walker and Jy Walker. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Clubs Geoff Davidson and Max McAuliffe are looking forward to theMerriwa Park courts being lit up. PHOTOS: Luke Plummer Copyright Agency licensed copy (www.copyright.com.au)