The association held the official opening of its new clubhouse on Saturday, where about 60 people turned out to celebrate the long-awaited final step to the association’s reformation.

President Mandy James said it had been a project of the club for about 10 years. 

“It’s a relief that it’s finally done, but it’s also more than that.

“It’s really exciting for the Buninyong and District Tennis Association to finally have their own courts,” James said. 

The opening saw many members of the community unite for the second time this year, after the eight outdoor courts were officially opened in March.

“We had life members, past members, honourary members, three councillors and Tamatha Hardy from Tennis Victoria,” James said.

The association will host the fourth of the five Central Highlands Junior Masters Tournaments, which will be the first official tournament since the opening.

“We’ve been able to play on the courts since Christmas time, including playing junior pennants in late March, which was great,” James said.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to play our finals all in the same location – for the best part of 10 years.”

The association now has a learning curve to adjust to of having its own fully functional facility with great standards.

“We don’t have too many competitions planned yet, we’ve got two internal junior tournaments – one before and one after Christmas,” James said.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had courts we could call our own, so we’re still adjusting to that.

“We’re beginning to plan events for our own courts, which we haven’t been able to do in a long time.”

James has been the president of the Buninyong and District Tennis Association since 2004.

At the official opening of the club house on Saturday, both James and association treasurer Phil Anstis were made life members.

nicole.cairns@thecourier.com.au