FOR 55 years Theo Kotsabakidis supported the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club with donations for its annual Labour Day long weekend tournament.
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Now his last commitment to the club is permanently in place as a reminder of his generosity to a facility situated three hours away from where he lived.
The connection to the club was formed by former president David McPhail, who created a lasting bond with the Melbourne-based Kotsabakidis whenever he travelled to play or watch.
"I asked him early on if he would be a donor and he gave us $15,000 for three years and then $1000 every year after that," McPhail, who served as president from 1977-82 and in 1984-85, said.
"He was also very generous when it came to raffles and he would buy a whole book and splash money like it was going out of fashion."
Kotsabakidis, who was also made a life member of the club, was a frequent visitor to Warrnambool and attended the Labour Day weekend tournament right up until his death in 2012.
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His dedication to the club continued even after he passed away when he left the WTLC with $25,000 to support it for the next 25 editions.
But last year his estates were wound up and the south-west tennis club was handed the remaining $17,000 of the pledge in his will.
With that final payment the club upgraded the facilities at its Lake Pertobe Road home in October 2019 as a lasting legacy to his valued support of the club.
Former president and current head of grounds committee Lew Officer said all the money was dedicated to new shelters.
The five shades are placed on the fence separating Barton's row (courts one to eight) and McPhail drive row.
It is the second tribute to Kotsabakidis at the club with Theo's Walk, situated between the en tout cas courts, one of the main ways to get to the back two rows of courts at the facility.
McPhail, who served on the club's committee for over 60 years and was there in its early stages in the 1940s, said it was another good way for the club to honour his memory in a permanent way.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
