By Jamie Salter
Pakenham resident Sammy Rolph is calling for improved accessibility after joining the Officer Tennis Club as the club’s first wheelchair participant.
The club’s infrastructure was erected in 1935 and includes steps up into the club room and cramped toilets.
Sammy said she was frustrated by the lack of wheelchair access at the club.
“Hopefully we can get it upgraded so I can get into the club room and use the toilets,“ she said.
Sammy was inspired to join the club after watching wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott – an advocate for people with a disability.
“I love how he wants to get everybody out there no matter what their disability is and watching him live at the Australian Open inspired me to join the tennis club,“ she said.
She said there needed to be more opportunities for people living with a disability in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
“You don’t find a lot of local sporting facilities for people with disability,“ she said.
“I’m also looking at trying wheelchair basketball but they’re all the way in the city and I don’t want to travel that far to play a sport.
“I have two older brothers and they both played sport growing up, I always loved the fact that they had a club and I always wanted to do that too.“
The Officer Tennis Club has launched a petition to the Cardinia Shire Council demanding improved accessibility, which has almost 100 signatures.
President Michelle Pitcher said although everyone welcomed Sammy to the club, it was embarrassing inform her she could not access the club house and toilets.
“It’s important for everyone to feel welcome at our club and other clubs and it’s basically a common human right to be able to access a toilet,“ Michelle said.
“We want to be a club that takes the lead to get more people like Sammy involved in tennis.“
Council has yet to formally receive the petition.
