Tribute to Ken Rosewall
Page: 13213
Ministerial Statement
Ms SANDRA NORI (Port Jackson—Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Women) [2.21 p.m.]: On 2 November this year one of Australia's greatest—indeed, one of the world's greatest—tennis players, Ken Rosewall, turned 70. Ken Rosewall and his wife, Wilma, and their good friend and former Australian Open winner, Beryl Collier, are in the public gallery today as guests of the honourable member for Georges River. In 1953 Ken came to international prominence with his good friend and fellow 18-year-old Lew Hoad when they achieved an amazing victory over the United States of America to retain the Davis Cup. That was the beginning of an international career that spanned more than 20 years. Over that time Ken was ranked in the world's top 10 players. His achievements included 16 grand slam singles finals, eight titles and nine grand slam doubles titles. He also played 22 Davis Cup matches, winning 19. Ken learnt his craft in the tennis courts of the St George district.
In March this year Hurstville City Council named its tennis complex at Peakhurst the Ken Rosewall Tennis Centre, honouring one of the great sporting heroes of the St George district and recognising his enormous contribution to the sport. Ken was made a Member of the British Empire and awarded the Medal of Australia, as well as being inducted into the New South Wales Hall of Champions in 1979 and the International Hall of Fame in 1980. He is currently a hands-on patron of the Australian Tennis Museum, which I am pleased to say has just moved to Sydney Olympic Park. Ken is known to me as a very modest and gentle man who is, no doubt, embarrassed by this attention, but I believe all honourable members would agree that this Australian sports ambassador deserves our recognition and our thanks for his great on-court skills, his sportsmanship and his many outstanding achievements. Ken, welcome to the bear pit. I hope you enjoy the next couple of sets.
Mr IAN ARMSTRONG (Lachlan) [2.25 p.m.]: As the shadow Minister for Sport it gives me great pleasure to join with the Minister and all honourable members to, first, wish Ken Rosewall a happy seventieth birthday. May the next 70 be equally as happy. Second, I want to acknowledge one of the great Australian icons. Muscles Rosewall, as he was commonly and affectionately known, is a true icon for young people, business leaders and sports people across Australia. He sold Australia as he travelled the world. As the Minister said, he is a gentle man. He is also a gentleman at all times. There were no tantrums, nonsense or allegations of anything going on off the court or on it. Ken was straight up and down. He was a top-class sportsman and individual, a man of principle who gave more than he ever expected to get. I can remember Ken Rosewall coming out to towns such as Young and giving demonstrations and talking to kids in the 1950s and 1960s.
We must not forget that in those days there was no sponsorship of tennis and most of the players had to earn a living at the same time as they played tennis. Honourable members will remember how long it took in those days to travel to America and Great Britain, so the lives of tennis players were totally taken up with looking after and providing for themselves. They gave enormous pleasure to Australia as a nation and encouraged many young people to participate in the sport of tennis. Ken Rosewall, we admire you enormously. Thank you for coming to Australia's oldest Parliament today. We look forward to many more years of enjoying your company and seeing Muscles Rosewall around this country and, indeed, around the world.