Every Monday at the Kiama Tennis Club, four women players over the age of 80 enjoy playing social tennis. 

Gerda Keast is 81 years old and enjoys playing with her friends every week. She originally had tennis lessons way back in primary school and has been a member of the tennis club in Kiama for many years now. “It’s wonderful to get together for social tennis each week.  There are different levels of mobility, and we still enjoy laughing and having lots of fun rallies,” she says.

Gerda is joined by Margaret Bywaters (86 years) who hopes to continue playing until she’s 90. There is also Gwen Ilic who is 81 years and very much enjoys playing tennis. 

There is also Brenda Davis who is 80 and is still playing Division One competition tennis.

The Kiama Tennis Club is located in Stead Reserve at the end of Noorinan Street. It is one of the largest and most active clubs on the NSW South Coast. It is a non-profit community organisation that offers its members and visitors excellent facilities, coaching and events all year round. 

Stead Reserve was named after caretaker Norma Stead OAM. Norma was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her dedication to the tennis community. She was a club champion, winning lots of NSW tennis awards, and was involved in training junior tennis at the old Kiama Tennis Club courts in Hindmarsh Park. 

Norma is now 98 years old and gave up playing tennis at the age of 84 and is still involved with the Club organising the ladies competitions.