The Steels Creek Tennis & Social Club is located at 817 Steels Creek Road, opposite Hunts Lane. The club is a vibrant hub of our community, with 40 active and social members enjoying competitive and social tennis, coaching and regular social events.
Contact
President, Mark Newell 0411 111 839
Secretary, Graham Lloyd 0430 243 442> Check out SCTC’s Facebook page
> SCTC’s News in the Jolly Thing
> AGM Nomination Form
> AGM Proxy Form
News
Friday Socials are back: Our next Friday night social get together at the tennis courts will be on Friday, 5 May. Come down to the courts from 6pm, for a chat and a drink with your Skreekian friends. Children are welcome and the courts are available for those that wish to have a hit. The BBQ will be fired up, with sausages, onions and bread supplied. BYO drinks. Cost is $25 per family or $15 per couple. Hope to see you there and get back to having them on the first Friday (normally) of each month.
Christmas in July 2023: Saturday 22 July, 6:00 for 6:30 pm serving. Cost: $35 adults – Delicious Xmas roast of moist turkey with cranberry and sage stuffing, baked crispy glazed ham and all the trimmings together with a traditional homemade steamed plum pudding with hot custard and whipped cream.
Optional for primary school aged children $15 per child for nuggets and chips with ice cream and topping for dessert.
All attending requested to RSVP with payment in full by Fri, 14 Jul, 23 to CBA Acct 063856 1001 9032 – use ‘X-mas’, your surname and number of dinners as reference.
Contact Mark Newell (SCTC-at-yarraglen.com) with other details (e.g., special meal needs, number of adults and children, etc). Must pay by the 14th to attend.Membership: Our membership year runs from July through June. Pro-rata discount from 1 February for NEW members. To support, or continue to support the Club, please download the membership form (link at left) and send your cheque or pay by EFT (details on the form). Your support is appreciated – and necessary.
Annual General Meeting 2022: The Steels Creek Tennis and Social Club, Inc held its 2022 AGM at at the Club rooms at 12 noon on Sunday, 13 November. The officers have stayed the same, with 2 exchanging roles: Mark Newell – President; Ed Bartosh – Vice-President; Graham Lloyd – Secretary and Graham Rothwell – Treasurer. The Committee is Kerry Guthrie, Heather and Athel Smith and Julie Riddell. If you have comments or suggestions for new programs or improvements, please see one us us.
Christmas Wind-up: All are welcome to join the committee at the tennis courts for a little Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 18th from 6pm. There may or may not be carols, but regardless, it will be a casual community get together with some festive spirit. BYO food and beverage, with the BBQ available for those who wish to cook.
Thursday Social Tennis: In addition to the Sunday social and Monday morning ladies tennis, we are bringing back night time social tennis to Steels Creek. All levels of play are welcome to come along and have a hit. Held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 7:30 pm.
Ladies Social Tennis: Lindy and Joanne have been playing on Monday mornings at 9 am. Contact Lindy if you’d like to join in for a bit of light fun (5965 2202).
Sunday Arvo Social Tennis On a suggestion from a member, we started a trial of Sunday afternoon social tennis. It has been restarted. If you wish to come and join in for friendship and exercise, contact the Secretary to check if play is on for that day.
Competition Tennis: Saturday afternoon tennis competition is still on hold as we haven’t been able to get enough volunteers for a team. If you are interested, contact Graham Lloyd (0430 243 442).
News Archive
VALE Alby Leckie:
VALE Alby Leckie: You would be aware that our longtime member and past president, Alby, passed away on the 16th of June 2021. The Funeral Service was held at the Le Pine Chapel, 440 Maroondah Hwy, Lilydale on Friday, 25th June, 2021. Family and friends unable to attend the service due to COVID restrictions could watch via livestream.
2021 Christmas Carols NightSocial events at the tennis club had been scarce this year, so we kicked 2021 to the curb and had a cracking get together to celebrate Christmas, and the end of another challenging year. The barbie was fired up for the sausage sizzle, the courts open for those that wished to have a hit, and some rousing carols rounded off the evening. Pictures are on the Facebook page at .
2019 Christmas in July DinnerThe Steels Creek Tennis and Social Club held their annual Christmas in July dinner at the Community Centre on Saturday Evening, 27 July. A great time was had by all who attended. An excellent dinner was prepared by Angie Lloyd, which was eagerly devoured. The laughter and banter was fantastic as friends got together to reminisce and enjoy the evening. Thanks also to Mark, Graham and their families for arranging the Hall to perfection. York was the surprise MC for the evening as well.
(Click on image to see enlarged)New key schemeFrom 1 July 2013, the Club court keys changed to a new ‘protected’ key. Previous court keys will no longer have access to the courts or lavatory entrance.
If you have a court key under the previous key deposit or key fee scheme AND you have paid your current annual subscription as a player, you will be eligible for a swap of your old key for a new key in lieu of paying the new key fee of $20.
If you do not have a court key and wish to have one, you may request one upon payment of your current player subscription and the $20 key fee.
Contact Mark to arrange a swap or key pick up. Keys remain the property of the Club and must be returned if membership is not kept active and financial. Conditions apply and are available here.
Winter 2013 season ends with a bangCongratulations to Alby, Peter, Rob, Peter and Graeme for winning their section flag this season.
New club rooms opened – 2011The new club rooms were formally opened on Sunday, 15 May 2011 with the assistance of Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Terry Avery and Cr. Jeanette McRae. Cr. McRae asked Life members Alby and Gwen Leckie and Jean Lowe to cut the ribbon opening the facility. Following a nice morning tea, Danielle Lowerson, Community Tennis Officer with Tennis Victoria, provided games and prizes for the younger set and a sausage sizzle was provided for others. Thanks also to Katie Kelly of Victoria Sport and Recreation for setting up the day.
New lights for SCTC – 2009The Steels Creek Tennis Club has been awarded $50,000 for lights, as announced on Tuesday 23 march 2009 by the Honourable James Merlino MP, Minister for Sport and Recreation. The Shire of Yarra Ranges added $20,000. Tamatha Harding of Tennis Victoria gave the club sport shirts, racquets and balls to help with our team and community efforts. Read the story in full here.
The vines might be singed but ... – 2009Steels Creek has suffered a blow from the bushfires of February 2009. However, as Andrew Chapman wrote: “The vine may be singed and the fruit burnt, but the roots are still there…”.
The Steels Creek Tennis Club will be open and playing on Saturday 14 February in Saturday Comps as normal (1 pm). Our grateful thanks to the utilities, the Shire of Yarra Ranges and volunteers who are helping keep us active and functioning.
The Shire contracted to install a new tank to replace one burned by the fires. They will also be using the block for a community amenities centre. Toilets and showers will be available for use. Across the street will be a water point for stock water and fodder. The new tank is full, roof cleaned for the next rain, and temporary showers are installed.
Callum Robinson and some volunteers arrived with help and 100 m of shade cloth donated by Michael Frost of Silvan Selecta. Volunteers came from the Yarra Glen Community Assistance Project.
Starting to heal and grow from our community roots (the kindness and help from members and strangers)!
Both teams played on Saturday the 14th – one away at Wonga Park and Alby’s OS-8 team at home. While preparing to start play, Fran Bailey MP and Malcolm Turnbull MP arrived to see the community starting its recovery.
Outstanding contribution to community recovery – 2009Your SC Tennis Club was recognised at the 2009 Victorian Sport and Recreation Awards ceremony on 23 November at the MCG for its “outstanding contribution to bushfire recovery”. The press release said, “Sports clubs such as Steels Creek Tennis Club are at the heart of many communities and provide a place for families and friends to get together and in times of adversity, sport can play a key role in building community strength. Our bushfire-affected clubs are playing a key role as communities rebuild, recover in the months and years after the fires.” This was unexpected by us, and we are grateful to our community for their support.
A Brief History of the Club
According to an article in The Evelyn Observer on 19 May 1911, the Steels Creek Tennis Club was opened by Mr E C Morris. It seems that the courts were on Mr Fletcher’s land.
Then on 21 February 1920, the Club was opened by Cr W Hubbard. It seems this was a different location, probably at what was known as Commerford Hill, just north of Valley Road.
In 1961, Bill & Mary Lawrence donated land to build the present courts, but it was 1988 before decent facilities became available. In the 1990s, the land was deeded over to the local Shire, but the Steels Creek Tennis & Social Club Inc. operates the facilities by agreement with the Shire.
The Club volunteers worked to improve the facilities, and the bitumen courts were redone in Synpave in 1999, and again, with a the help of a grant from the Shire, synthetic grass courts were laid over the Synpave in 2007. Further improvements came with new lights in 2009 and a new clubhouse in 2011.
Steels Creek players compete in the Eastern Region Tennis Association (see the standings of our teams by selecting Steels Creek from their ladders page). We are also affiliated with Tennis Victoria.
