Since 1995, the Rainbow Flag has been proudly flying above the quaint little clubhouse, one of Western Australia’s oldest heritage listed sport buildings, but in 2009, Loton Park Tennis Club, Australia’s only Gay and Lesbian Tennis Club may be on the verge of closing their doors once and for all.
Despite an active committee and membership drives, membership numbers have slow but steadily declined. In recent times, the Club allowed Bears Perth to use clubhouse as their new Den after the closure of Beaufort 565. This has been a great collaboration, but it is not enough to save the club. With the rising cost of maintaining the grounds, the club needs 80 fully paid members by February 28 (membership is $300, for u/25’s $135 – the cheapest in WA for that age group) to ensure the financial security of Loton Park.
Club President Michelle Rigg said she is ‘hopeful that by emailing out to current and past members, people who haven’t joined up that would have in the past will come down and join. We also hope some of the other people in the community who have indicated they were quite interested in the club will come down and join.’
Rigg continued on to say that she first became involved with Loton Park after seeing how vital it was to Perth’s gay community as an alternative venue.
‘For myself I made a whole lot of friendships with it and a load of great people and have learned a lot about the community through my involvement with the club. It’s a great place for people who are just coming out to come and meet people in the community in a unique atmosphere where guys and girls can mix together. It would be a shame to lose that.’
Loton Park Tennis Club meets every Wednesday at 5pm for twilight tennis and Saturday afternoon from 2pm. To become a member of Loton Park or make a donation to the club, please contact either Club President Michelle Rigg on 0418 942 231 or Secretary Doug Kirkwood on 0412 903 401.
