Tennis player meets idol

Ningali Forrest-Freeman, the Under-10 tennis player from Woy Woy, had the opportunity last month to meet her tennis idol Evonne Goolagong at the Indigenous Come and Try Day in Sydney.

The event was run by Tennis Australia in conjunction with the Evonne Goolagong Foundation and the Australian Government's Learn Earn Legend! initiative.

Ningali said that meeting Ms Goolagong "was better than Christmas or going to Luna Park".

She is currently in second place in the girls Under-10 Northumberland Junior Development Series.

The initiative aimed to encourage and support young indigenous Australians to stay at school, get a job and be a legend for themselves, their family and their community.

Children, aged five to 12, were personally greeted by Evonne Goolagong at the door.

Later children listened to a talk presented by Ms Goolagong and spent several hours on the court.

Ms Goolagong's story, of how an indigenous girl from the bush became a Wimbledon Champion has inspired millions of athletes around the world.

Ms Goolagong told children of how she started her career in her home town of Barellan, with little more than a bat, a ball and a water tower to practice against.

Every day she would write her result in the dirt and come back the next day and continue practicing.

"If you are determined enough, you can achieve great things and be a legend for yourself and your family," said Ms Goolagong.

Newsletter, 13 Jun 2012

Maurice Murphy, Northumberland Tennis