Tribute to Arthur Matthews (AJAY) OAM
born 3rd March
1911, died 10th April, 2007.
It was both a sad and happy occasion when Tennis Masters and
former Veterans were part of a large crowd on Monday the 23rd
April at the Domain Tennis Centre, to farewell Arthur Matthews.
It was sad because we would no longer see him walking through the
centre dressed in his immaculate clothes or long tennis whites and
carrying his tennis bag. Sad because we will not see him
playing his fiesty, beautifully produced tennis shots again, or
hear his wry sense of humour which amused us so often.
Happy because we had to laugh at his son Geoff's stories of Arthur
and his adventures in the Eastside Care Home at Mornington during
his fourteen months there. Happy because we knew that Arthur
had played tennis on the Saturday and Wednesday before he died and
how he enjoyed cutting his 96th Birthday Cake at Taroona Tennis
Club in February.
President Graeme Holloway, former President Jim Byrne and other
members of Tennis Masters paid tribute to Arthur. All Tennis
Masters extend condolences and sympathy to Arthur's family on
their loss.
Arthur cuts his 96th birthday cake |
Arthur
was our Patron from 2001 and Secretary for 25 years. He was
the instigator of Tennis Veterans in Tasmania in 1975. In
1977 due to Arthur's efforts the first National Australian
Veterans Teams Events and Championships were held in Hobart.
These events were also held in Hobart in 1985, 1993 and 2001.
Arthur represented Australia in the Britannia Cup team (65+) in
1981 in London, and in New York in 1982 and was the No.1 singles
player. He also played in the Crawford Cup (70+) in Finland
in 1982 and again as the No.1 singles player. He played
again in the Crawford Cup team in Austria in 1986.
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In 1985 he was ranked at No.1 in the 70+ in Australia and No.11 in
the world. He won many singles and doubles titles in
Veterans Australian Championships and was the face of Tasmanian
tennis to other states for many years.
Arthur was a true tennis legend. He will be sadly missed.
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