By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Ferntree Gully Tennis Club is inviting the community to get involved in their first-ever online raffle to raise much-needed funds for the maintenance of the club’s tennis courts.
The raffle, which is now live, will help the club keep its courts in top condition, ensuring they remain a great place for the community to enjoy tennis for years to come.
We caught up with the club’s committee member, Kyllie Moore to learn more about the fundraiser and why it’s so important for the community to support.
Ms Moore, who has been on the committee for two years, said the club is hoping to raise $1500 through the raffle.
“It’s a big task to keep everything running, and the funds will help with the maintenance of our courts,” she said.
As a volunteer-run club, the team works hard to raise money to keep the facility open and accessible to everyone.
“We want to make tennis available to everyone in the community, whether they’re experienced players or just starting out. The club is all about creating a friendly, welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy,” Ms Moore said.
The raffle offers some exciting prizes, with the grand prize being a one-year family membership to the Ferntree Gully Tennis Club, valued at $280.
There are plenty of other fantastic prizes up for grabs, including vouchers for massages, Lindt chocolate gift baskets, café gift cards, and even a Sherrin football signed by AFL players.
Ms Moore said the club is grateful for the local businesses that have generously donated prizes to help raise funds.
“The support from the community has been amazing – it’s really heartening to see local businesses helping out,” she said.
Tickets for the raffle are just $5 each, and sales are open now, the raffle will be drawn online at 12pm on Sunday, 27 April, and ticket sales will close on the same day.
There’s no in-person event – winners will be announced online. To buy tickets, you can visit the club’s website or scan the QR codes on flyers around Ferntree Gully.
Ms Moore also said that this raffle is part of a bigger push to make tennis more inclusive at the club.
“We try to be really involved in the local community. Whether it’s running sausage sizzles, attending local festivals, or offering free trial sessions, we’re always looking for ways to make tennis more accessible,” she said.
“The club is committed to inclusivity, with programs in place to ensure no one is left out.”
“We want everyone to feel welcome, no matter their age, ability, or experience – tennis should be for everyone.”
This is the first time the club has run a raffle like this, but Ms Moore is hopeful it will become an annual event.
“We hope this will be the start of something we can do every year to raise money for the club,” she said.
The raffle is a fantastic way for the community to show their support for the club while having the chance to win some great prizes.
So, whether you’re an avid tennis player or just want to support a local club, grab your tickets before they sell out and help Ferntree Gully Tennis Club continue to serve the community.
So far, the total prize pool is sitting at $1387, with 19 fantastic prizes to be won.
