Good Sorts - Judy Clarke

Thinking back to where her love for tennis began, Judy Clarke decides that it was during her childhood on the farm at Arno, hitting the ball up against the concrete cowshed with her cousins.

Decades later and her passion for the sport hasn’t waned. She has served as secretary and president of the North Otago Tennis Club and as secretary, president and secretary-treasurer of its affiliated Waimate Tennis Club, of which she is a life member.

The years have been filled with fun and friendship, playing matches throughout the district and often enjoying a social meal together afterwards.

A lot of fundraising effort has been put into the club over the years. The meat raffle used to be a regular event and Judy remembers people would be ready and waiting, eager to secure their “lucky number.”

Back before her own involvement in the club, Judy recalls that many haybales were sold to fund the sealing of the tennis courts at Seddon Square. The courts were resealed again just last year and Judy says this has improved their serviceability by providing good traction underfoot almost immediately after it has rained.

Families have grown up together through the tennis club, with children accompanying their parents to the social games and naturally becoming involved.

Regularly coming together in this way throughout the years has formed strong bonds, states Judy. “We’re a tennis family.”

Her efforts to encourage the next generation are ongoing, having organised the Waimate Junior Tennis for more than five years. She faithfully attends the weekly lessons, encouraging each child from the sidelines and sometimes standing in as coach if needed.

In 2009, Judy’s dedication to tennis in North Otago was acknowledged with a Youthtown Services to Sport Award and in 2012, she also received a Waimate Civic Award for her voluntary service to the Waimate Tennis Club.

Other sporting groups have also received Judy’s time and passion. After marrying husband Brian in 1972, they moved to Makikihi where she joined the local basketball team.

When the family relocated to Waimate in 1983, Judy actively involved herself in her children’s sporting interests, coaching and refereeing miniball, as well as junior and senior basketball.

Over the years she has also been involved in the Waimate Squash Club, serving on the committee and competing in tournaments.

Around 1984, Judy and sister-in-law Raewyn Williams established the Waimate Junior Athletics Club for the under-sevens, after seeing a need for younger children to have something of their own in which to participate while the older siblings were doing Senior Athletics.

“We had everything the Seniors had, just on a smaller scale,” says Judy, explaining that it was important for the children to feel that their efforts were valued.

“Every single measurement was recorded and everybody’s name and results were published in the Waimate Advertiser, taking up practically the back page of the paper.”

Good sportsmanship and perseverance were celebrated when the club shield was awarded each week - an item made especially by Judy’s brother and painted by her Uncle Russ.

At the Christmas break-up, there would always be “goodies” and alternative fun races, complete with a visit from both Santa and a fairy.

Fun and friendship is also what has attracted and held Judy’s interest in the Women’s Institute (W.I.) since she first attended as a teenager, accompanying her mum, Joy Williams, to monthly meetings of the Waihao Downs W.I. held in the Arno Hall.

The W.I. host speakers to demonstrate a wide range of skills and members from around the country can connect at the annual conferences, held in different locations each year.

The Waimate Federation, which encompasses all the current Institutes of Blue Cliffs, Glenavy, Hunter, Morven-Makahiki and Studholme, also holds a bi-annual Eisteddfod event, alternating with its Arts & Crafts Show.

After Judy moved to Makikihi, she joined the local W.I. and took on various roles as secretary, treasurer and president.

When low membership resulted in a merger of the Morven and Makikihi W.I. in recent years, they fondly became known as “the M&Ms.” Judy currently serves in the role of president, as she also does for the Waimate Federation. Her longstanding dedication has been marked with the W.I. Good Service badge and 50-Year Service badge.

Judy’s mum, Joy, was also instrumental in her involvement with Senior Citizens. As Joy took the hall bookings, it was natural for Judy to step in and help with the role in later years, eventually taking it on completely. She has also taken up the role of treasurer and helps with other tasks as needed.

A lifetime dedicated to community interests has led Judy to believe that the motivation to volunteer must come from within and says she has sought to teach her children that service should be given freely, without expectation of reward.

By Olivia Ball.