WITH nearly 100 courts and 1300 players, Country Week is the largest grass court tennis tournament in the world. The event, equally represented by men and women, travels to different regional centres across Victoria, with this year’s tournament taking place in Swan Hill as part of its regular rotation between Albury/Wodonga, Yarrawonga, and next year’s host, Shepparton. While the name "Country Week" suggests a link to rural communities, players come from all over Australia, including many metropolitan areas. One club that proudly celebrates its rural origins is Euroa. This year, the Euroa Lawn Tennis Club entered nine teams, one of the highest numbers of teams from any club. But the real achievement came when all nine teams reached the semi-finals, with two teams making it to the finals. The “Real Housewives of Euroa” – a team comprising Kelly Hill, Marja Wondergem, Row Ellis, Maizie Walsh, and Sue Vaughan – narrowly lost by just three games. This was their first Country Week experience, and their performance was nothing short of impressive. The “Guns of Ned”, featuring Michael Nolan, Rob Lawrence, Keighan Hicks, and Declan Weston, triumphed in Section 10 with a convincing victory, despite having only four players. Looking ahead, 2026 will see the tennis circus move to Shepparton/Mooroopna, and expectations are high for an even bigger and better event. Once again, Euroa hopes to feature prominently in the tournament, continuing to make its mark on this prestigious competition.
