A LONGTIME Cobdogla Tennis Club player, coach and volunteer was honoured at this year’s Tennis SA Awards earlier this month.
Shane Nettle, who has been involved with the club on and off since starting as a junior, took home the rural Volunteer Achievement Award at the online ceremony.
Mr Nettle was recognised for his work coaching junior players, his involvement with the club’s committee and fundraising efforts, and his work teaching the sport to students at the Cobdogla Primary School.
Mr Nettle said winning the award was a “great honour”.
“It was a really humbling experience, especially when you consider there are so many great volunteers in the Riverland,” he said.
“It was great to be able to share the award with the club and the Riverland tennis community.”
Mr Nettle said helping young players improve through coaching and helping keep the club strong as a volunteer was “really rewarding”.
“I think that it is really important for the kids to have strong role models and are part of a club to help them learn skills they need later in life,” he said.
“There are a lot of distractions out there, but if they are part of a strong club it can help them to develop healthy habits.
“It’s also great because it helps to keep the kids healthy and active.
“The kids that start at the Cobby Tennis Club tend to take those skills through life.
“Instead of falling out of the sport, kids at the club tend to remain involved with Riverland tennis into their adulthood and stay part of the community, which is also really important.”
The ceremony, which is normally held in Adelaide each year, was broadcast online on Tennis SA’s Facebook page due to COVID-19 restrictions.