Three Tauranga tennis enthusiasts are recognised for their outstanding contribution to the performance, leadership and management of tennis of their respective tennis clubs and the Tennis Western Bay of Plenty Association.

In the 2023 Tennis New Zealand Awards, Sue Jamieson are named as the Masters Player of the Year, Warwick Brew received a Te Tohu Hāpai Award that acknowledged his contribution to the sport over a lengthy period while Gerald Greig is recognised as the Volunteer of the Year.

Sue Jamieson has fashioned an impressive record at all levels of tennis for a number of years and is well known in the region for her commitment to her sport, says Tennis Western BOP executive chair, Robert Naumann.

“She continues the tradition of Tauranga-based players achieving success at national and international events,” says Robert.

“With a current International Tennis Federation Masters ranking of fifteen in singles and three in both ladies and mixed doubles, Sue has now won twenty-five national titles.

“She also captained the Tennis Masters Western Bay of Plenty Team that won gold at the national teams’ event.

“Internationally, Sue has placed first or second at Masters’ events in Austria, Italy, Amsterdam and Denmark as well as winning two silver medals at the World Super Seniors tournament in Florida.

“She is a role model for all aspiring players.”

Te Tohu Hāpai Award identifies that at the heart of the delivery of the sport of tennis in New Zealand is a large body of volunteers who either provide governance of the sport throughout the country or who serve the sport in many ways including as administrators, coaches and officials, says Robert.

“Many provide service over many years, often decades, and sometimes over a lifetime.

“Tennis New Zealand has, therefore, established Te Tohu Hāpai, an award providing national recognition for long service to the sport within New Zealand across a wide spectrum of forms of contributions.

“Te Tohu Hāpai, provides national recognition for such lifetime service and therefore complements the Tennis New Zealand Life Membership award (Te Tohu Taumata).”

The three key concepts for Te Tohu Hāpai, are:

• He Ngakaunui - dedication / commitment to tennis
• He Manaakitanga nui - care / impact on tennis
• He Kaitiakitanga – stewardship / guardianship of tennis

Warwick Brew is one of nine recipients of this award this year.

“He has provided volunteer service to the tennis community at both club and regional level for almost fifty years.

“He has been a club committee member at Otumoetai Tennis Club in Tauranga since 1975 and has served both as Club Vice President from the late 1970’s through to 2005 and then as Club President from 2006 through to 2023.

“He has also served numerous other roles within the club, particularly with regard to grounds and facilities and was made a Life Member of the Club in 1996.

“There is nothing Warwick does not do for his club.

“He is literally everywhere.

“He identifies volunteers for specific roles, ensures that there are always other volunteers trained and ready so that the workload is spread among the “Otumoetai family” without overloading anyone.

“He liaises between the main committee, the junior and mid-week sub-committees and club coaches to ensure tennis is available to all members.

“He has a very significant role as Business House Manager, operating one of the largest competitions in the country.

“It runs all year round and provides competitive tennis for two hundred players on a regular basis.

“His efforts have been recognised by him being made the first Life Member of Tennis Western Bay of Plenty in 2020, having also served in a number of roles with that Tennis Association, primarily again with regard to facilities.

“He was a founding trustee of the Papamoa Tennis Charitable Trust which owns and manages a sixteen tennis court complex in the region.

“He has also taken prominent roles in the running of ITF tournaments in the region over the years and he is reported still to contribute thirty to fifty hours a week on volunteer work for tennis.

Gerald Greig is described by his club as dedicated, effective and charismatic. Elected as the President of Papamoa Sports Tennis Club in 2021, he wasted little time in getting on with the job of injecting a new energy into meeting the requirements of club members, says Robert.

“Nothing is impossible for Gerald as his list of achievements indicates:

“An active delegate at Tennis WBOP association meetings.

“Leadership of the fundraising for lighting upgrades to the tune of $500,000.

“Ongoing leadership of the implementation of ClubSpark software and the installation of automated gates.

“His work in this area led to the club winning the ClubSpark Club of the Year in 2022.

“Management of a rebrand of the club’s logo and colour scheme.

“Management the club’s Facebook and Instagram account.

“Attendance at meetings of the council and regional sports organisation meetings where he has been able to develop strong and mutually beneficial working relationships.

“The securing of hosting rights for the Eves Open ITF.

“A leadership role in the Papamoa Tennis Charitable Trust which administers the Papamoa Centre in conjunction with the Papamoa Club.”

All three award winners as outstanding, says Robert.

They share a determination to be their best at what they do and know that the results will come from their hard work and attention to detail, he says.

“While Warwick and Gerald have different leadership styles, they identify the creation of an effective team as being vital to the immediate and future success of their clubs and are innovative in consultation and sharing leadership.

“Without volunteers like them, tennis would be a less attractive sport.”