An honour for Collaroy to be awarded 'Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative'
On Thursday, 15 October 2026, current and former Committee Members and special guest, Northern Beaches Councilor Bob Giltinan of Narrabeen Ward, gathered at Le Montage restaurant in Lilyfield for the presentation of the 2026 Tennis NSW Awards. (See more photos in the Gallery below.)
Prior to the event, Collaroy had been announced as Finalists in two categories, defending our title as ‘Most Outstanding Tennis Club or Venue – Metro’ and also nominated for the ‘Tony Podesta Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative’, for our ‘Return Serve’ event held in April this year.
Similarly, our Coaching Partner Evolve Tennis Academy, was a nominated Finalist in both the ‘Excellence in Venue Operations’ and ‘Most Outstanding Growth Initiative’ categories.
While we missed out on Most Outstanding Club this year (to Mosman Lawn Tennis Club), we were absolutely honoured to be named Winners of the Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative. Return Serve continued the Club’s commitment to Inclusion by using tennis to foster connection and wellbeing, while honouring the service of veterans and their families and supporting their transition to civilian life. Our event was delivered in partnership with the Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre.
Accepting the award from John Fitzgerald on behalf of the Club, member of the Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Committee Dave Keogh, paid tribute to club stalwart Col Barden as the inspiration for Return Serve. Dave spoke of Col’s service as a Vietnam veteran, his involvement in the infamous Battle of Long Tân as part of the 1st Australian Task Force exactly 60 years ago, and the ongoing effect this has had on Col’s life. Dave concluded his speech with the simple words, “This one’s for you Col.”
Scott Fletcher represented Evolve, accepting the award for ‘Excellence in Venue Operations’ at Collaroy. This award recognises the way Evolve supports players at Collaroy from their first tennis experience, through to State, National and High Performance opportunities. Over the last 12 months, Evolve has attracted more than 11,400 players to Collaroy, participating across coaching, competition and school and community programs. Congratulations to Ryan, Scott, Paula and the entire Evolve Team at Collaroy.
Our friends at the NSTA also had a big night, winning the ‘Most Outstanding Tournament’ award for the 2025 North Shore Open and Collaroy member Ginette Porteous joined fellow NSTA Board Member Helen Ackerman to accept the award.
And the Collaroy connection didn’t finish there! Several players involved in THIS Sunday’s All Abilities Week event at our Club were recognised for their achievements over the last 12 months. Our two celebrity speakers on Sunday – Kelly Wren AM and Anderson Parker – were both nominated Finalists for ‘Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability’… and that category was won by World No. 1 Blind and Low Vision player, Grace Hobbs, who will again grace Court 5 at Collaroy this Sunday! Grace represented Australia at the 2026 IBTA World Championships in in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Kelly represented Australia this year at the Virtus Championships in Poland and won the Women’s Doubles at the AO26 Intellectual Disability Tennis Slam, while Anderson continued to establish himself among the world’s leading Wheelchair Tennis players, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 18.
And another participant in Sunday’s event, Arato Katsuda-Green won ‘Most Outstanding Young Athlete With a Disability’. This amazing teenager, who also plays in the Blind & Low Vision category, stunned onlookers at last year’s All Abilities event at Collaroy, by hitting ‘tweeners’ no less! Joining Arato and Grace at Collaroy on Sunday will be another 2026 Finalist for ‘Most Outstanding Athlete With a Disability’, one of Australia’s leading blind and low vision athletes, Mick Leigh.
Make sure you’re at the Club from 12 Noon on Sunday to see all these incredible players in action.
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