TCA Honour Roll | Recognising Outstanding Contributions to Tennis Coaching

The Honour Roll recognises the outstanding individuals and coaches who have made exceptional contributions to tennis in Australia. In this article, we celebrate their achievements and lasting impact on the sport.

Presidents

The following individuals have served as PTAV/TCA Presidents, leading the organisation with vision and dedication. Their leadership has shaped the future of tennis coaching in Australia, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.

• Wes Horskins
• Tim Connelly
• Julie Fidler
• Peter Owen
• Judy Bull
• Peter Murphy
• Alan Stone
• Neil Toyne
• Ron Cummins
• Neal Guiney
• Stan Birch
• Ian Occleshaw
• Frank Sedgman

Life Members

Life members have made an outstanding contribution above all others to the TCA Board of Management serving over a period of no less than ten years.

• 2016 Julie Fidler
• 2015 Peter Owen
• 2012 Robert Petersen
• 2008 Judy Bull
• 2008 Peter Hubble
• Inaugural: George Gilmour*
• Inaugural: Ian Occleshaw*

Legends

Legends have previously been inducted into the TCA Hall of Fame and each Legend will have made significant contributions to the TCA and tennis coaching for a period in general of 40 years or more.

LEGEND INDUCTEES

• 2023 Cheryl Hewitt
• 2019 Will Coghlan*
• 2016 Ian Barclay
• 2011 Norman Cahill
• 2010 Don Tregonning*
• 2008 Ian Occleshaw*

Hall of Famers

Coaches who have made outstanding contributions to the tennis coaching profession as
a PTAV/TCA/TCV member for a period of 30 years or more.

At the 50 year anniversary of the TCA celebrations conducted at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in the presence of almost 200 coaches and guests in June 2006, twelve highly respected and revered tennis coaches were inducted into the inaugural TCA ” Hall of Fame”.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

• 2024 Allison Miller
• 2022 Wesley Horskins
• 2019 Ann Quinn
• 2018 Glen Busby
• 2017 Elizabeth Peers
• 2016 Terry Stone
• 2015 Larry Dempster
• 2014 Victor Eke
• 2013 Ian Barclay
• 2012 Colin Davis
• 2011 Lois Plowman
• 2010 Rupert Ferdinands*
• 2009 Colin Price
• 2009 Brian O'Connor
• 2008 Brian Beers
• 2007 Cheryl Hewitt
• 2007 Will Coghlan*

INAUGURAL INDUCTEES 

• 2006 Norman Cahill
• 2006 Don Cameron*
• 2006 Ron Cummins
• 2006 Leo Guiney
• 2006 Bill Kucks
• 2006 Denis Lemke
• 2006 Ian Occleshaw*
• 2006 Bryan Slattery
• 2006 Keith Rogers
• 2006 Don Tregonning*
• 2006 Les Wood-Wilson

Club Coach of the Year - George Gilmour Memorial Trophy 

The George Gilmour Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Club Coach of the Year for successful coaching programs and pathways within their community and demonstration of loyalty to his/her club/facility.

• 2024 Paul Osborne
• 2023 Alexei Demajo
• 2022 Paul Mick
• 2021 Annette Sheppard
• 2020 Mark Peel
• 2019 Vicky Lee
• 2018 Paul Vassalio
• 2017 Kane Dewhurst 
• 2016 Dane Nebel 
• 2015 Shane Scrutton 
• 2014 Vicky Lee
• 2014 A J Muscillo
• 2013 Craig Haslam
• 2012 Warren Maher
• 2011 Peter Owen 
• 2010 Wes Horskins
• 2009 Mark Sheppard 
• 2008 Terry Payton 
• 2007 Nick Board 
• 2006 Terry Stone
• 2005 Sue Saliba
• 2004 Kim Davis
• 2003 Colin Price
• 2002 Robert Peterson
• 2001 Stephen Storer
• 2000 Paul Kleverlaan

Rising Stars

The TCA Rising Star award recognises the achievements of a young coach age 30 years and under for their outstanding, innovative, and industrious approach to tennis coaching and the tennis industry.

• 2024 Adam Lasky
• 2023 Kale Nairn
• 2022 Jarron Morris
• 2021 Olivia Rich Ashleigh Richardson
• 2020 [covid-no nominations]
• 2019 Tim Shepherd
• 2018 Luke Devlin
• 2017 Ryan Meehan
• 2016 Lewis Miles
• 2015 Lawrence Gileno
• 2014 Christopher Singh
• 2013 Aidan Fitzgerald
• 2012 Danielle Borle
• 2011 Marc Sophoulis
• 2010 Matt Gregory
• 2009 Matthew Symons

Rookie Coach

The TCA Rookie Coach award was created in 2011 and is for an employer (head coach) to nominate an outstanding assistant 25 years or under.

• 2024 James Bruce-Smith
• 2023 Sebastian Sutterby
• 2022 Jasmin Iaquinto
• 2021 Jake Zerman
• 2020 Zac Nixon
• 2019 Chloe Reese
• 2018 Daniel Massa
• 2017 James Sheppard
• 2016 Jordan Wright
• 2015 Ebony Miles
• 2015 Michael Mattschoss* 
• 2014 Tim Shackleton
• 2013 Regina Virgo
• 2012 Chris Fidler
• 2011 Giselle De Bartolo

Coach of the Year [discontinued since 2009]

The Coach of the Year award was presented by TCA up until 2009 in recognition to the most outstanding coach / player development and is now managed and awarded by Tennis Australia as part of their Newcombe Medal Awards. 

• 2009 Chris Kachel
• 2007 Ian Barclay
• 2005 Michael Robertson
• 2003 Mark Hartnett
• 2002 *award deferred to biannually
• 2001 Michael Baroch
• 2000 Lois Plowman
• 2000 Peter Joyce
• 1999 Julie Golightly
• 1998 Cynthia Doerner
• 1998 Craig Tyzzer
• 1997 Elizabeth Peers
• 1997 Larry Dempster
• 1996 Cheryl Hewitt
• 1996 Victor Eke

Ian Occleshaw Award

This prestigious award has been made in honour of our former President, Legend, and Life member who served the TCAV for over 50 years. Ian sadly passed away on March 29 2015 but in honour of his legacy will never be forgotten. The recipients of this award will have made an enormous lifetime contribution to promoting tennis in multiple different categories, such as, a volunteer, a coach, a venue operator, media presenter and/or as a player sustaining the highest standards, humility and work ethic in the spirit of and epitomised by our illustrious founder. This award is nominated and voted on by the board on a as needs basis.

• 2023 Allan Stone
• 2019 The Tregonning Family
• 2016 Frank Sedgman
• 2014 Ron Carter/Frankston Tennis Club (Inaugural)