YourVoiceSpringfieldSummer2020

Community spirit shows in storm recovery Halloween, Saturday 31 October 2020, was a scary day for many Springfield residents for a completely different reason. The hail storm that hit that afternoon was unprecedented, devastating hundreds of families who lost homes, cars and livelihoods. The support of volunteers and emergency services needs to be acknowledged, as well the local businesses that donated meals and services to support local families that were displaced. Too many to name but it wasn’t unnoticed. A special mention must go to the team at YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre, who were mobilised and ready, setting up a Community Recovery Centre with a multitude of support services, coordinating donations of relief hampers and serving meals, as well as offering washing facilities and phone charging stations. Their friendly faces assisting hundreds of families daily over two weeks. The recovery isn’t over yet. If you want to support Springfield families that were impacted, Ipswich City Council has combined with GIVIT to set up a Hail Relief Fund which will manage donated funds, goods and services. Requests range from grocery vouchers to pillows, quilts and children’s toys through to beds and whitegoods. Visit www.givit.org.au/severe-storms Welcome Baseline Tennis Coaching Bec, Alison and Katie as well as the team of volunteers at YMCA were a huge support to the community As the newly appointed tennis courts manager, Director of Tennis, David Gore and the team at Baseline Tennis Coaching are thrilled with their new home base, centrally located in the heart of the Springfield community at the Springfield Central Sports Complex. They have been operating in the Greater Springfield area for nine years, with strong connection to local schools and clubs with their after-school junior coaching programs. David is joined by Jack Whitehead (Head Coach) and George Wong (Assistant Coach) and their plans for 2021 include the development of expanded coaching programs, as well as focusing on social and disability offerings and increasing female and First Nations participation in the sport. They’ll be celebrating their opening with a community open day in late January (more details in What’s On). With plans for more social events throughout the year that will include adults mixed tennis and coffee mornings, beginner and improver coaching sessions, parent and child competitions, adult match play and social tennis nights, 2021 is going to be a busy year for them growing tennis participation in Springfield. Phone: 0450 622 307 Open: Monday - Saturday 10am - 10pm Where: Sportstar Drive, Springfield Central Meet the Head Coach Jack Whitehead is a Springfield local who has been coaching for the last seven years, with a mix of skill level players from as young as three years old up to experienced adults. “I’m always eager to help people learn, get better at tennis and most importantly have fun on the tennis court.” www.facebook.com/BaseLineTennisCoaching The Baseline team - from left: Head Coach - Jack Whitehead, Director of Tennis - David Gore and Assistant Coach - George Wong