MIA Tennis Open Celebrates 100 Years

ONE of the longest running sporting events in rural NSW will celebrate its 100th year in Griffith in June. The Centenary MIA Open, an annual three-day tennis tournament, will be played over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, from June 12 to 14.

The tournament has survived droughts, floods and World Wars, not to mention the world-wide COVID pandemic since it began in 1920. Griffith tennis veteran Lorraine Maxwell said a group of well-heeled farmers met at a local cheese factory just after World War 1 and decided to start an annual tournament.

“The event was initially staged at various farms across the district, attracting residents from across regional NSW, who would travel to Griffith via horse and carriage. The tournament was actually played on Banna Avenue, where Zecca’s Restaurant is now located, and various other courts before finding its current home at Jubilee Park in 1955.”

The MIA Open has been played at the local Jubilee Park since 1955, where courts were built and named after Griffith tennis’ most iconic figure, Jack Shannon. “Jack was married to the Griffith Tennis Club,” Mrs Maxwell said.

“The lifelong bachelor won a lottery, then dedicated his life to Griffith tennis. He would volunteer at the club every day and coached hundreds of children for free.”

Griffith’s most well-known family - the Mackays - also had a long association with the town’s tennis.

Don Mackay, a prominent businessman and politician, who tragically became Australia’s first political assassination, was a keen social player. It was his older brother, Bill, though, who excelled on the court, winning six MIA Open titles between 1946 and 1954 while barefoot.

“The rain-soaked 1955 tournament was one to remember,” Mrs Maxwell said. “Bill Mackay teamed up with Nev Boland. Both men played shoeless against Temora opponents with the ball splashing muddy water into their faces. A number of Griffith MIA Open participants have gone on to win national titles, including Des Tyson, Darryl Henderson, Lyn Andreazza, Danny Dossetor and Margot Dixon.”

There will be 46 different events at the tournament this year, including Mother and Daughter and Father and Son doubles matches. The tournament caters to all ages and skill levels and is open to anyone in Australia. A special event for the centenary year is a doubles game where the combined ages of each doubles team equal 100.

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• Tennis