1965-74
Highmoor was officially formed in October, 1965, when our fourteen founding members decided to play tennis together and form a club. Highmoor was originally formed as a Church club, with members coming from Highett Presbyterian Church. However, in order to grow the numbers, the Moorabbin Presbyterian Church was also approached in order to lure those with an interest in tennis. Thus, the origins of the Highett and Moorabbin churches are how the term ‘Highmoor’ came about.
The first annual membership rates were set at just $5 for seniors. Initially, however, courts did not exist, and members had to hire courts at Royal Avenue in Sandringham. Yet soon enough, building plans were established in 1967, and three courts were built in 1968. The clubhouse was built in 1969, and by now things were really starting to kick off. Betty Hooppell and Edith Kentish were organising junior tournaments, juniors were playing comp on Saturday mornings, and social tennis on Saturday afternoons had begun. Skip ahead to 1972 and Highmoor had taken out its first A Grade Division 1 premiership.1975-84
Highmoor was continuing to progress well, and by 1977 junior numbers had increased by so much that we had to start hiring courts at Wickham Road to fulfil our Saturday morning requirements. With members soaring over 200, two new courts were built in 1980 after the council had purchased the property that previously took up the space. The first ball was hit on the courts by the Mayor of Moorabbin, Frank Le Page, whose family name is the basis for Le Page Street.
With the new courts, Saturday senior teams were allowed to play home matches at Highmoor for the first time ever. In 1981,Highmoor granted Bob and Betty Hooppell with life memberships after years of invaluable service.
1985-1994
1985 saw the commencement of our very first Sunday twilight night, with the 4pm tennis and barbecue becoming a summer tradition for decades to come. The late 80s also saw arguably our greatest ever team, with Highmoor taking out the Division 1 premiership for five consecutive seasons. By 1989 Highmoor had reached 293 members.
1990 was a monumental year for Highmoor, marking its 25-year silver jubilee. Much to the delight of our members, legend coach Ian Jones also resumed coaching after having retired from the education department. Memberships reached its highest ever level of 306 in 1992, and Highmoor had become a social hub for much of the local community. The Victorian Tennis Association awarded Bob and Betty Hooppell with special services awards for going “beyond the call of duty” for a prolonged period of time.
1995-2004
The late 90s saw Highmoor entering an average of 26 competition teams a year, with about four each year winning premierships.
As the new millennium hit, and with people becoming busier, almost all clubs in the district were suffering from dwindling membership and participation numbers. Whilst this also affected Highmoor, the club remained true to its origins and continued to be one of the most socially active tennis clubs going around.
2005- Present
2005 marked Highmoor’s 40th anniversary, and a dinner dance was held at the Oakleigh Sports Club, which was a tremendous success. On the night Highmoor recognised the many people who had given years of service to the club, including all of our life members
2006-2007 were very tough years for Highmoor with stage three water restrictions hitting Melbourne, and stage four threatening. This meant that automatic sprinklers were banned and only three of our five courts could be used. The impending threat of stage four restrictions in 2008 led President Ross Cartledge and Frank Fox to successfully install a much valued bore water system. Finally, the year capped off with a much-needed makeover to the clubhouse! Frank Fox then led a team of helpers to install a much needed new kitchen in 2010.
To mark our appreciation to Bob and Betty Hooppell, the clubhouse was renamed the ‘Hooppell Pavilion’, as part of our 45-year anniversary celebrations in 2010. In the years following, a period of change came over Highmoor, with Betty Hooppell, Bill Collins, Ross Cartledge and Mark Plymin stepping down from the committee, all after decades of incredible service.
In the years of 2013 and 2014, two of our much-loved founding members, Bob and Betty Hooppell, as well as life member Matt Cuthbertson, unfortunately passed away.
In November, 2013, Highmoor’s application for new fencing and lights on courts 1-3 was approved by Kingston Council and the Victorian Government, and by 2015 both had been successfully installed. For the first time in its history Highmoor can now offer tennis at night. Memberships are back on the rise and have once again surpassed 200.
Golden Jubilee – Highmoor’s 50th anniversary was celebrated in the usual Highmoor style with a dinner dance at the Southern Golf Club on the 24th October 2015, attended by 130 past and present members, and friends.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a Tennis Victoria Highly Commended tennis service award to Bill Collins for his outstanding contribution to the club since its establishment in 1965, including 43 years on the committee ( 19 years as President).
Also, Maurice Pattison was granted a life membership.
If you would like to read an exact timeline with even more details about the history of Highmoor, please click here!