Toolibin community kept alive by historic tennis club

Toolibin Tennis Club is practically all that is left of the town that once was. Founded in 1924 with 46 members, the club grew with the town around it and before long, new courts were needed to keep up with growing demand. By 1953, the little club 45km east of Narrogin, which started with two clay courts, had six. But in the second half of the 20th century, families moved away from the area, buildings disappeared, and familiar faces departed. Now, the club is nearly all that is keeping the Toolibin community’s heart beating. Kyle Angwin has been playing at the club his whole life and has served as president for more than two years. “My father can remember there being at least 30 houses in town ... no one really knows why it’s become a ghost town now,” he said. “From what I understand there was a general store and a school and I believe there was a wheat bin, but I’m not sure. There was a clay target club and a cricket club. “The club has remained when others have folded.” With the town slowly disappearing around it, staying on-court has not always been easy for a club that claims to be the oldest active clay court tennis club in rural Australia. Only a few years ago, the club was struggling for members. “I can remember going to the 75th ... anniversary because we weren’t going to get to 80 years,” Mr Angwin said. The club has since passed the 90-year mark and is going strong. “We’ve certainly passed that with resilience and determination, and in the last five years the club has grown again,” he said. “Being the oldest and only remaining rural clay courts, we have a proud obligation to uphold and cherish the history. “But it also gives our members the opportunity to come together as a community to check in with each other.” The courts are open every Sunday, with fixtures running from October-November and from February to the end of March, with a break for harvest in between. Fifty-two members attended the club’s March Singles Championship last year, and the six courts have again been getting good use. Mr Angwin said having multiple generations of members at the club was encouraging. “Not everyone can get there every single week because they have various commitments, but it’s pretty exciting when you pull up and there are six courts playing already,” he said. “We generally have two courts going at the one time but certainly last year and the year before we’ve had weekends where we’ve had six courts going at the same time. I think most of the families that are involved are two generations that are actively playing there now. “We’re certainly very passionate about it out here, we love it. We fight off flies to get down there, have a few beers, and play a set.”