Get comfortable, because today’s thank you is just part of an even greater story.
Just over 30 years ago, a group of Wānaka friends formed a “senior” social tennis club. With members from local families (including the Wallis, Gordon, Burdon and Elworthy families), they proudly named themselves The Ancient and Royal Raqueteers.
Not long after, a rival club emerged made up of other locals (families such as the Simmers, Johnstones and Wilsons), calling themselves The Knotty Points.
More than three decades on, many of the original members are still taking to the court. They meet fortnightly over summer, and while the average age now sits at over 80, the competitive spirit remains as strong as the day they started.
Each Christmas, the two clubs come together for a fierce tournament followed by a social gathering. In recent years, the traditional Secret Santa exchange has been replaced with a collection for a local charity. So not only are the two clubs dedicated, but kind too.
At last year’s Christmas, The Ancient and Royal Raqueteers and The Knotty Points raised an extraordinary $950 for the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust.
As a volunteer-led trust, we raise significant funds each year to assist local families facing the financial strain of their children’s medical and health needs. Living in our rural community often means travel and accommodation costs on top of treatment expenses, and demand for support continues to grow. Donations like this genuinely make a difference.
Thank you to The Ancient and Royal Raqueteers and The Knotty Points. If ever there were proof that community impact can go hand-in-hand with fun, this remarkable group of self-proclaimed “oldies” has set the standard.
