For four men at Kiama Tennis Club, the sport of tennis has been their devoted hobby for well over 50 years and despite being in their 80s, they continue to engage in weekly rallies.Fortunately for Alan Hansell, Brian Keast, Bob Morgan and Bruce Ryan, there is no age limit for the sport.Bob, who is President of the Club and ranked No. 1 in men's doubles for over 80s with Ulladulla local Herbie Chee, describes their weekly matches as their version of the Men’s Shed.“There is a health benefit – it keeps us healthy, fit and engaged – but you also have a good group of people that you can talk to, and that’s the best benefit I get out of it,” says Bob, who still competes in Senior Competitions across Australia.Bob in action [Image by Brian Scott]Their matches may be less intense than what’s seen in the Australian Open, and according to Bryan, there are key differences between them and younger players.“Most young people who play sport warm up and do things like that. We just roll out of bed, wonder out and get on the court,” says Brian, who has been playing the sport – which he says saves him from exercises – for 70 years.For Bruce, who was the one of four who began the Tuesday morning Men’s Social tennis in 2001, tennis has become his Tuesday morning ritual.“I don’t go to church on Sunday, so I go to tennis on Tuesday,” he says.The Kiama Tennis Club, which was established in 1953, now has 513 members and allocated times seven days a week for social women’s, men’s, mixed and junior tennis as well as competition tennis.“We’re here to provide a service to our community and the more people who come down here, the better it is,” Bob says.“We welcome everybody,” treasurer and member of 13 year's, Alan says.You can join online via kiamatennis.org.au or in the Club.
