Spirit of Wimbledon comes alive in the tropical north
Judy Dalton hits courts like old days for hospital funding event
The sport of tennis is in our Australian identity fabric and a tennis legend came to Port Douglas to raise funds for much need hospital resources.
Locals, guests and tennis enthusiasts came together on Wimbledon’s ‘Middle Sunday’, to team up for a ‘Doubles Tennis Tournament’ at Mirage Country Club, Port Douglas.
Celebrating a century of Wimbledon Centre Court, the longest standing and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas and Mirage Country Club had the pleasure of hosting tennis legend, last Sunday.
Forty locals, guests and tennis enthusiasts took part in the afternoon full of sportsmanship, laughter and community spirit.
Starting with fresh sandwiches and ending on a sweet note with classic Wimbledon-style strawberries and cream, curated by Sheraton’s Executive Chef Belinda Tuckwell, the event was a huge success with over $4,000 raised for local charity, Mossman Hospital Friends of the Foundation.
The proceeds were a combination of tournament entry fees and an auction to have Judy play on your team.
Trailblazer Judy Dalton won nine tennis majors and is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
She is however most famously known for making history alongside Billy Jean King over fifty years ago as part of the ‘Original Nine’. This trailblazing group of women led by Billie Jean King, included Peaches Bartkowicz, Rosie Casals, Julie Heldman, Kristy Pigeon, Valerie Ziegenfuss and Nancy Richey who broke away from the men's tour in 1970 in order to take a stand for equal pay, which paved the way for equality for women in sport.
Dalton not only has all of these accomplishments to her name, but she also is a proud local residing at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas.
She said she was thrilled to bring the spirit of Wimbledon to Port Douglas in celebration of one hundred years of Centre Court.
“I loved playing Wimbledon and wanted to do something special to celebrate 100 years of Centre Court and the first 'Middle Sunday' of Wimbledon,” Dalton said.
“I thought a Port Douglas Wimbledon Doubles Tennis Tournament was the perfect way to mark the occasion and bring the community together.”
“The event was a great success; the staff of Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort and Mirage Country Club were amazing and everyone who attended loved it.”
Peter LeGriffon, Director of Nursing at Mossman Hospital, said that the funds raised would go towards improving hospital services and increasing the comfort of patients.
“It was terrific to be involved in such a unique community event and the hospital is so thankful for the support. We appreciate the work that goes into an event like this and look forward to putting the funds towards improving our hospital services and increasing the comfort of our patients.”