The Wodonga Blind/Low Vision Tennis Come & Try Day, held on Sunday 5th October, was a wonderful success with 40 enthusiastic participants attending to learn, play, and connect through accessible tennis. The day was facilitated by professional Blind/Low Vision Tennis players who travelled up from Melbourne, bringing expert knowledge, lived experience, and a passion for inclusive sport.
The facilitators divided participants into small groups to teach essential skills, including ball tracking, connecting the racquet with the audible ball, and basic gameplay. They also guided participants through the key accessibility features of Blind/Low Vision Tennis—tactile court line markings, smaller court size, and the audible foam ball, helping everyone understand how the sport can be adapted for different levels of vision.
A special highlight was having Maddy, Australia’s number one ranked junior female Blind Tennis player, assisting throughout the day. Maddy’s involvement gave participants - especially the younger ones - an inspiring example of how far Blind/Low Vision Tennis can take you and the opportunities it can open.
Local tennis coach Gary Comins was also on hand, offering coaching, support, and guidance to participants as they learnt the foundations of the game.
After two hours of learning, practising skills, and having a hit, participants enjoyed a shared BBQ lunch together. To celebrate the day, everyone received their very own Blind/Low Vision tennis ball to take home.
Participants shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, describing the day as “friendly,” “well run,” and a great opportunity to “try something new and meet new people.” Many commented on how much they appreciated the accessibility of the sport and the chance to learn from experienced players.
A huge thank you goes to the State Trustees Foundation, the coaches at Margaret Court Tennis Academy: Gary Comins and Natalie Grandin, Rachel and Maddy Kelly, the Wodonga Tennis Club, Kayla and Jo from Tennis Victoria for their incredible support and commitment to growing Blind/Low Vision Tennis in this region. Their collaboration helped create a welcoming, inclusive, and empowering experience for everyone involved.
Since this event, Gary from Margaret Court Tennis Academy with Maddy and Rachel have been working to set up a sustainable Blind/Low Vision Tennis opportunity for people with vision loss in the Wodonga region and are now working with participants from the event who are keen to continue playing Blind/Low Vision Tennis.
If you would like to get involved in blind/low vision tennis in Wodonga please contact Head Coach Gary Comins on 0473 847 303.
Proudly supported by State Trustees Australia Foundation.
