From left: Marisa Chatzikyriazis, Nicoleta Diacoyannis, Maria Tattersall and David Spierings show the support Bryan Eldridge (front) has received from Rosswood Tennis Club.By Marc McGowan
ROSSWOOD Tennis Club’s Bryan Eldridge is set to become the first wheelchair-bound tennis player to compete in the Waverley District Tennis Association after the club made a significant upgrade to its facilities recently.
Eldridge, 15 next month, was born with spina bifida, which has made him a complete paraplegic but has not held him back from excelling in tennis, athletics and basketball. The student at Carwatha College, Noble Park North, will play under the wheelchair rules, the main difference being that he will be allowed two bounces on his side of the court before returning the ball, rather than one.
Rosswood is hoping other clubs will follow suit regarding their facilities, which will allow players such as Eldridge to compete away from his home club.
“I have always encouraged him to mix with people other than those with a disability,” Eldridge’s mother, Alison, said. “The tennis club (Rosswood) has been very supportive.”
The landmark occasion will occur in the Waverley Tennis summer season, with Eldridge taking part in an all-doubles competition.
“It’s quite exciting from a club level – we’re really happy to give them a chance to play a sport at local level,” Rosswood junior convenor and disability coordinator Maria Tattersall said. “Not one of the players hesitated about playing with him.”
The City of Greater Dandenong provided $38,000 for the club’s upgrade and worked alongside Leisure Link Up, the local Sport and Recreation funded organisation, in the juncture.
The development included a disabled toilet, shower and changerooms, as well as access from the gateway to the club through a ramp that leads right to the courts.
“Wheelchair users can (now) get changed and shower after a game, use the ramp to get to the courts in comfort and participate fully in the joys tennis brings,” council disability planner Chris Stewart said. The process took about 12 months and culminated in an open day in January this year.
“I just like to see everyone have a go,” Tattersall said. “The thing I’d probably really like to see happening is to let them realise a disabled person is just another person.”
Tattersall sent an email to Waverley Tennis president Mark Collins explaining Eldridge’s situation, and Collins was only too happy to accommodate Rosswood’s wishes to allow the youngster to play competition.
“We received the request, gave it some thought, and were delighted to let him do that,” Collins said. “The committee was very enthusiastic and we hope he enjoys it. Hopefully it will lead to more disabled athletes doing it.”
Eldridge has been playing tennis for a year and has been coached by Rosswood’s resident coach David Spierings, who inspired the upgrade, for a couple of months.
“It is fantastic for the club and the Waverley District,” Spierings said. “It’ll be a big challenge for him.”
Seeing her son about to join the competition has left Alison feeling extremely grateful and immensely proud.
“When it comes down to it, he has every right to be involved,” she said. “He’s never felt he shouldn’t be able to do things. Hopefully it will inspire other people with a disability and they might realise they can do it too.”
