15 tennis Street Ballarat

Indigenous youngsters will converge on Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre on Thursday for a come and try program under the legendary Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley

The Evonne Goolagong Foundation runs the program for five to 15-year-olds in a partnership with the federal government’s ‘Learn Earn Legend’ initiative.

Goolagong Cawley is the ‘Learn Earn Legend’ tennis ambassador.

A major objective of ‘Learn Earn Legend’ is to encourage and support young Indigenous Australians to stay at school, get a job and be a legend for themselves, their family and their community.

About 70 youngsters are expected to attend the Ballarat session, which will also be attended by Goolagong Cawley’s husband Roger Cawley and a panel of coaches featuring Anzac Leidig, who is the Evonne Goolagong Foundation head coach.

Coaching will be complemented with a talk by Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won four Australian Opens, one French Open and two Wimbledon Open championships in the 1970s – rising to number one in the world in 1976.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley said coaches were looking for children who displayed enthusiasm, determination and a willingness to improve themselves given half a chance.

Athletic ability is also taken into consideration, but is not the determinant factor.

The Australian tennis great said some youngsters from the day might be selected to receive equipment and further coaching.