Playing tennis is like riding a bike - once you learn you’ve got the skills for life.

Ryan Stirling spent his younger years in Cowra and participated in tennis lessons organised by local club members from the age of four.

He moved to Tenterfield where he played basketball, volleyball, golf, squash and Aussie Rules but no tennis as there was a lack of organisation.

“The courts seemed to be never in use,” Ryan recalled.

After completing his secondary studies at Tenterfield High School, Ryan completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Chemistry) at the University. of NSW at Randwick.

Ryan then went to work for Masterfoods at Wyong for four years, then travelled to Canada on a skiing holiday before moving to England where he worked for an engineering consulting company from 2004-2008.

He made his comeback to tennis when he joined the Jamberoo Tennis Club in 2018 and started playing night competition in Division 4 with Shaun Thurkettle, Ryan Stalgis and Nick Kofod.

Ryan came to live in Jamberoo in 2020 and works for the Shellharbour Council at the waste depot at Dunmore.

This year he was promoted to Division 3 night comp, teaming up with two of the club’s most experienced members - Noel Faulkner and Joel Edwards.

Ryan has performed well in the club championships, winning the B Grade Men’s Doubles in 2023 with Harley Fry and in 2024 with Shaun Thurkettle.