Tennis festival hits Coolum
Thu 25 May 2006
Aimee Pearce, Journalism
Organisers of the upcoming Australian Festival of Tennis are confident the event will attract tourism and business to the Sunshine Coast.
The week-long event, which is held from June 11 to June 18, is a celebration of tennis and also incorporates the Australian corporate tennis championships.
This year the festival will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum, instead of Noosa Springs, to cater for more spectators and to provide five star accommodation for participants.
The competition is open to Australian and international tennis pairs representing their corporate organisation in men’s, women’s or mixed doubles.
Many locals are volunteering their time and skills to help organise the festival.
Lauran Hofman is the volunteer events manager who is responsible for the functions held during the festival.
“We’re having a grand slam dinner, celebrity cocktail party, Starlight golf day, international food and wine fair and a travel and technology expo,” Mrs Hofman said.
Mrs Hofman said that the festival has a lot to offer the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s endorsed by Tennis Australia so it is a festival of high standard and it’s held in such a beautiful location,” she said.
“We are making corporations aware of the Hyatt and the Sunshine Coast as a whole as a possible conference destination and a place to do business.”
Mrs Hofman said that the festival provides an opportunity for business people to build staff morale and also establish client relationships by playing tennis together.
“It’s a chance for people in corporate companies to bring their staff and clients to these events as a means of networking,” she said.
Tennis legends and celebrities will be attending the festival during the tournament and coinciding social events.
Promotions and volunteer coordinator for the festival, Kimberlee Newman-Tyler, said that tennis legends including Ken Rosewell, Geoff Masters and Peter Tramacchi will be present as well as celebrities Mark Veretta and Powderfinger’s Darren Middleton.
“It’s a great opportunity for the public in general,” Ms Newman-Tyler said.
“They can see celebrities on the court and then come to the functions and meet them.”
“What makes it unique is that ordinary people get the chance to mix with some of Australia’s best tennis legends,” Mrs Hofman said.
An auction is being held during the grand slam dinner and all proceeds will go to the Starlight Foundation. All the items to be auctioned have been donated by businesses, many of which are based locally.
A pro-shoot out and concert will open the festival on Sunday June 11 and another concert starring Kevin Borich and Doc Span will close the event on Sunday June 18.
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