Moolap Tennis Club

08/10/2026

📰 Moolap ACE 📰

The latest edition of the Moolap ACE is out NOW!

Physical copies will be available at the club from tomorrow, as well as digital version emailed directly to your inbox 📥

Not on the mail list? 😱
Not a problem, flick us a DM or alternatively, email Phil directly to be added:
[email protected] 💌

This special four page edition is proudly brought to you by the editor in chief, Mr. Phil Hunt 🖋️

💛🖤

04/10/2026

📜 2026 AGM RECAP 📜 + Working Bee Snaps 🐝
Sunday 4th October 2026.

After a busy working bee, followed by lunch and plenty of good conversation, members gathered for the 2026 Annual General Meeting.

Outgoing President Matt Pettigrew opened proceedings by thanking everyone for their attendance, particularly those who had rolled up their sleeves for the working bee earlier in the day.

The meeting got underway with the usual formalities, before a small change to the agenda saw Matt present the President’s Cup early, with this year’s recipient needing to make an early departure.

Congratulations to Jackson Maddison, a very worthy recipient of the 2026 President’s Cup! 🏆 👏

Matt then proudly announced this year's Life Membership nomination, and what a worthy recipient.

After Matt read out the nomination and highlighted her incredible contribution to Moolap, members unanimously approved Rita Nelis as a Life Member.

Rita has given more than 20 years of service to the club, including an incredible 38 consecutive seasons coordinating the Midweek Ladies competition. Congratulations Rita, and thank you for everything you've given to Moolap. ❤️ 🏅

Treasurer Joey La Spada was unfortunately unable to attend, with Secretary Mick McKenzie presenting the Treasurer's Report on his behalf. The club finished the financial year with a modest surplus, despite a significant increase in operating costs. Members unanimously supported a $10 increase to membership fees for the coming season.

Dejan Trajlov then presented his coaching report, highlighting the significant growth in junior participation over the past 12 months. The relationship with Moolap Primary School continues to be an important part of the club's growth, with further school partnerships also being explored.

Matt then delivered his final President's Report, reflecting on a positive year for the club and noting that the key measures continue to point in the right direction.

He thanked the committee for their support and work throughout the past 12 months. With the time finally coming to vacate the chair, asking members if he could share a few words reflecting on his six years as President.

They agreed.

What followed was a heartfelt reflection on six years at the helm of Moolap Tennis Club: the challenges, the successes, the friendships, the memories and everything in between.

There were emotional moments at times, but fittingly, Matt powered through with the same determination that has defined his presidency.

Outgoing Secretary Mick McKenzie then thanked Matt on behalf of the club, presenting him with a small gesture of appreciation for his six years of presidency.

Matt formally vacated the chair and declared all committee positions vacant. Matt invited Moolap's newest Life Member, Rita Nelis, to conduct the election of the new committee.

Your 2026/27 Committee:

▪️President: Connor Chivell
▪️Vice President: Matt Pettigrew
▪️Secretary: Jake Weakley
▪️Treasurer: Joseph La Spada
▪️Executive Members: Amy Kuskunovic & Michael McKenzie
▪️Senior Rep: Brad Canny
▪️Junior Rep: TBC
▪️Midweek Rep: Rita Nelis
▪️Nights Rep: Sophie De Wit
▪️Social Rep: Mark Core
▪️Club Delegates: Mark Core & Les Phillips
▪️Bar Manager: Jackson Maddison
▪️Social Media Manager: Sidney Scerri
▪️Public Officer: Jake Weakley

Rita thanked everyone for their attendance and for putting their hands up to help lead the club into the next year before inviting the new committee forward.

Our new President, Connor Chivell, then addressed the room, thanking members for their support and acknowledging Matt for his time as President. He spoke passionately about the opportunity ahead and his excitement for the next chapter of the club.

With no further business, Connor officially closed the meeting.

And then, as always, the formalities gave way to plenty of conversation, laughs and the ever-persistent Phil Hunt making sure there was photographic evidence of it all. 📸😂

A great day for Moolap Tennis Club.

Six years of leadership comes to an end, 20 years of volunteering recognised, a new committee steps up, and a new generation takes the reins.

The next chapter starts now!
💛🖤 🎾

03/10/2026

😍😍

Rain halts Mount Moriac’s charge as Moolap and Drysdale battle in Tuesday Women’s Section 3 pennant.

01/10/2026

🌧️ TRIPLES CANCELLED 🌧️

Due to rain, the first round of the Spring Triples season is a washout!

We'll try again next week 🎾

💛🖤

28/09/2026

26/09/2026

🖋️ An open letter to the Moolap Tennis Club community 🖋️

After six wonderful years as President of the Moolap Tennis Club, the right time has come for me to step down from the role.

Six years is a long time. I’ve watched Moolap grow from a club at a genuine crossroads to where we are now, and I couldn’t be more proud.

We’ve welcomed new members, celebrated team successes and those elusive premierships, invested back into our club and our facilities, built upon our connections with other organisations, and continued to build something that I think is genuinely special at Moolap Reserve.

There have been plenty of ups and downs, challenges that tested us, and decisions that weren’t always easy. However, there have always been many moments, both on and off court, that reminded me why I love this club.

But while the club has grown, so have I. Unfortunately, my hair has not! (I had much more of it before I started, I promise 😂)

Being President has taught me a lot about leadership, patience, delegation, resilience, listening and action. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have played a small part in Moolap’s story.

I know many members won’t be able to attend our AGM next Sunday, 4 October, so I wanted to take the opportunity to pen this letter to our wonderful community and simply say: thank you.

Whether you’ve been here for decades or only joined recently, whether you play every Saturday, Tuesday or simply drop by for a social hit, every one of you, past and present, is what makes this club what it is.

For those who can make it, I’d encourage you to come along. An AGM might not sound like the most exciting event on the calendar, but it’s an important part of our club’s governance and ongoing operations, and it’s a welcome opportunity to have your say and help shape what comes next.

As for me, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be around the courts, still barracking from the sidelines, and still proudly calling Moolap home.

It’s been an absolute privilege.
Thank you Moolap. 💛🖤
Matt

09/09/2026

06/09/2026

🏆🏆 GRAND FINAL RECAP 🏆🏆

Saturday September 5th saw TWO Moolap teams make the Tennis Geelong Winter Season Grand Finals.

After a grueling home and away season, both sides made the big dance via very different pathways.

Section 1 Open hosted Surfcoast Torquay at home in an elimination final, grinding out a 3-1 win before travelling up the road to top side Newcomb, where they produced another 3-1 victory to book their spot in the big one.

Section 4 Open LeoLaps finished second and travelled to Grovedale Black in a qualifying final, winning a nail-biting contest 2 rubbers all, 5 sets to 3, to set up a home Grand Final.

And then came Grand Final day…

🌧️ The scene: Wet. Windy. Proper winter tennis weather.

The 1 Open crew: Lachy, Connor, Chris and Callum — travelled to Grovedale for what looked like a pretty even contest on paper.

Callum battled hard in the opening singles, going down 3-6, 2-6. Chris and Connor then lined up in the opening doubles, working their way to a 6-4 first set before rolling through 6-1 in the second. All squared up!

Grovedale came out firing against Callum and Connor, smashing out a 6-2, 6-2 win to take the lead.

Enter Lachy.
Lachy did Lachy things, grinding out a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

🧮 CALCULATORS OUT…

Moolap wins by ONE GAME!!!

2 rubbers all.
4 sets all.
33 games to 32!!!

🏆 SECTION 1 OPEN PREMIERS! 🏆

Congratulations to Lachy, Connor, Chris and Callum on an absolutely awesome victory!

Meanwhile, back at Moolap Reserve, the weather was doing exactly the same thing: showers on and off all day and enough wind to take Trump's toupee clean off his head! 💨

Hayden kicked things off in the singles against his Ocean Grove White opponent, grinding out a 3-6 first set before copping a touch-up 1-6 in the second.

Georgia and Lee were their brilliant best, smashing out a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Again… all tied up!

Hayden and Georgia then combined for a gritty 6-4 first set before trotting away with the second 6-1 to give Moolap the lead. Tom was still locked in on the second singles, grinding out a 7-5 first set.

While his teammates had already done the maths and were congratulating each other on the win, Tom wasn't interested in premature celebrations.

He was finishing the job. And finish it he did, grinding out another 6-4.

3 rubbers to 1.

🏆 PREMIERS!!! 🏆

Congratulations to Hayden, Georgia, Lee and Tom on a fantastic season and a bloody brilliant Grand Final performance!

Two Grand Finals.
Two Premierships.

Can't get much better than that! 🏆🏆

And a special shout-out to Leopold Tennis Club for their partnership in 4 Open. We've definitely got a good thing going! 🤝

🍻 THE CELEBRATIONS

The Winter Season break-up and presentations took place at the Wharf Shed on the Geelong Waterfront.

Food, bevvies and plenty of good times followed, with Mr Moolap himself, Phil Hunt, cracking jokes and taking plenty of untimely photos while both premiership teams relived the events of the day.

Mr President Matt Pettigrew kicked off the presentations just after 9pm, thanking everyone for another awesome day at Moolap.

Night Rep Sophie De Wit then stepped up to hand out premiership medals to Moolap's Two Phones Chol and Zing Kings for their Thursday Triples triumphs a few weeks ago.

She also presented the MVP medals:
🏅 Two Phones Chol — Connor Chivell
🏅 Zing Kings — Stuart McRae
🏅 Bearded Guys — Brad Canny

Next up were the Senior Awards.

Jackson Maddison stepped up to congratulate our newly crowned premiers and present premiership medals to our Section 1 Open and Section 4 Open LeoLaps teams.

He then presented the Most Consistent Awards:
🏅 1 Open — Connor Chivell
🏅 2 Open Black — Jake Weakley
🏅 2 Open Yellow — Lucas Nesci
🏅 2 Open White — Sam Sheppard
🏅 3 Open — Jake McInnes
🏅 4 Open — Darcy King
🏅 4 Open LeoLaps — Georgia Verlin
🏅 5 Open — Cam Dempster

Phil Hunt was then invited back up to present the Angela Brammar Trophy to the player with the best overall aggregate.

Congratulations to Section 4's Darcy King on an outstanding season! 👏🏆

Callum Davey then took the floor to say a few words, thanking the club and, most importantly, the members who came along and supported the teams throughout the season, and especially those who helped get them over the line earlier that day.

Matt then finished up by saying this would be his last presentation as President, thanking everyone for their support, help and friendship throughout his time at the helm. Matt also finished by wishing all the fathers in the room a very happy Father's Day for tomorrow.

And with that, we officially enter the break before the Summer Season kicks off on October 10th.

Of course, the celebrations didn't end there…

A good number of the crew kicked on afterwards, with a few rounds of shots at the bar before the festivities moved into town for further celebrations.

Early reports suggest some members were still out around 3am. No surprises there. 🍻😂

Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic Winter Season. We'll catch you all very soon…

IT'S COMING HOME! 🏆🏆

💛🖤

05/09/2026

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Moolap has won the Section 1 Open premiership by ONE GAME over a valiant Grovedale side.

Congratulations 🎉🎉

ITS COMING HOME 🏆

More to come 😍

💛🖤

05/09/2026

🚨 BREAKING NEWS🚨

WE HAVE A PREMIERSHIP 🏆

Congratulations to our LeoLaps in section 4 Open, winning at home 3 rubbers to 1!!

More to come
💛🖤