Tennis courts receive much needed facelift
Esterhuizen was overjoyed with the news of the NLDTF's involvement. “These are the only tennis courts in Barberton and they have been neglected way too long."
An application that was submitted by a Barberton businesswoman to the The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) was approved. During August 2014 Helena Esterhuizen, owner of Function Junction Coffee Shop, approached the Lotto in the hopes that it would be interested in getting involved in a project regarding the fixing of the tennis courts.
During this time Barberton Mines also took a similar proposal into consideration and after it started restoration on one of the tennis courts during October, it was handed over in the beginning of this year.
Leon Knoetze of Coastal Pools & Courts and his dedicated team in Mbombela started work on the four tennis courts last week and said they should wrap it up before the end of the month.
Esterhuizen was overjoyed with the news of the NLDTF’s involvement. “These are the only tennis courts in Barberton and they have been neglected way too long. There’s nowhere that leagues can be played or where tournaments can be held. It is also depressing to see that the recreational facilities in our town fall apart due to lack of maintenance,”
The project included the restoration of the four remaining tennis courts, four nets and a coin-operated machine. Esterhuizen said that a lot of working people wanted to play tennis, but it was impossible to do so after hours.
“All this is going to change once the coin machine is in use. Tokens can be bought from Function Junction Coffee shop which will allow anyone to play after hours. The moment you feed your token to the machine floodlights will light up the courts and people can play to their heart’s delight,” she said.
Esterhuizen, who is also vice-president of the tennis club, said there were many plans in the pipeline which would involve the whole community, like tennis clinics which would be held on a regular basis and getting the schools involved as well.
The 2016 membership fees per year are R550. Couples who join will pay R1 000, high school learners R300 and learners in primary school only R200.
Enquiries: Wilma Whittaker on 013-712-7564.
