December 6, 2013
You know it’s summer when the world’s tennis elite starts arriving in Australia … but for a pair of local “tennis tragics”, it also means it’s time to pack their bags and head to Brisbane.
Kingaroy tennis coach Brad Boynton and South Burnett councillor Ros Heit are both volunteers at the annual Brisbane International tennis tournament which is played at Tennyson as a lead-up to the Australian Open.
This means they get to rubs shoulders with – and enjoy seeing in action – some of the world’s top tennis stars.
The Brisbane International requires hundreds of volunteers to run smoothly.
This is Brad’s fifth year of helping out while Ros is backing up for her fourth.
Brad is part of the “transport team” which makes sure players, guests and other VIPs get from A to B “happily, safely and on time”.
Ros is in “court services”. She helps prepare the courts before and between matches, making sure there are plenty of cold drinks and cold towels available for the players.
Ros said she decided to become involved after chatting one year to a volunteer after she went down to watch the matches.
“I thought it would be a wonderful thing to do,” she said.
The Brisbane International will run from December 29 to January 5.
Players expected to take part this year include Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.
[UPDATED with correction]
