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The Essendon Tennis Club has the privilege of having as one of it's members one of, if not the oldest (still playing), tennis players in Victoria, if not Australia. (Not sure that's true , but sounds good) |
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| Gordon Crewther, at the ripe old age of 91, can be seen at the club on any Wednesday and occasionally a Friday, participating in the Senior Social Tennis Program. Gordon has been playing tennis for the past 80 years, commencing at 10 years of age. |
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However, Dr Crewther as he should be known, has far more of a story to tell than just than the fact that he likes to hit a tennis ball. He was born on the 15/11/1918 in Kyneton, Victoria (Population 3,500). By 1923, just short of five years of age, Gordon already possessed competence in times tables, spelling and reading and was sent to an elementary school. By 1925 he had advanced to third grade primary. In 1928, in sixth grade, Gordon represented his school in an inter-school athletics competition and won the 75 yard "under ten" event. In 1929 he moved on the Kyneton High School, aged ten years. It was also this year that he was introduced to tennis, along with his sister Jean, by his father. In 1931 Gordon was awarded the Victorian Rechabites Scholarship, which provided liberally for books etc and paid school fees. During this time, as a junior Gordon played inter-school tennis, ran 440 and 220 yard events and competed in the broad (long) jump in the inter-school sports at Echuca (only managed fourth). He was also a member of the school football team. |
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In 1933 Gordon Completed his Leaving Certificate, matriculating and shortly after was offered a position as a clerk in the State Public Service. Between 1934 and 1941 Gordon worked as a clerk with the Police Department then the Department of Agriculture. During this time attending night classes toward a Degree in Science. He applied each year for a Public Service Free Place succeeding on the fifth attempt. Gordon completed his BSc Degree with Chemistry, Microbiology and Biochemistry as majors and the Free Place was extended to allow completion of a MSc in Biochemistry. Several years later Gordon was awarded a Doctor of Science degree at Melbourne University. This followed with his being made a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemistry Society and a Fellow of RMIT. It was during the period of 1934 and 1944 that Gordon married Dorothy Carmichael James and settled in Canterbury, Melbourne. Being very busy with work and life in general Gordon lacked the time to play tennis finding the christmas breaks, when visiting his parents in Kyneton, offered the only opportunity. It was here that he hit the ball on the dozen r so municipal courts on offer in Kyneton. On several occasions a visiting Davis Cup scout commented that Gordon's serve was faster than any of the Davis Cup squad members, but that it lacked accuracy. Gordon was transferred to the Dairy Research Institute at Werribee during this period, but in 1943 he accepted a position on offer in the BIochemistry Section of the CSIR (later called the CSIRO) working under Dr F.G. Lennox.
The Biochemistry section under Lennox became the Wool Textile Research Laboratories in 1949 and the Division of Protein Chemistry in 1959. In 1962 Gordon was appointed Assistant Chief of Division and in 1973 Chief of Division. Gordon retired in November 1983. |
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From 1944 to 1996 Gordon played inter-church tennis with the Canterbury Congregation Tennis Club and the Canterbury Uniting Church Club. He joined the Essendon Senior Social Tennis Program when he moved residence to Carlton in 1996. Gordon states that 'It has been a pleasure and a privilege to play with this group since that time'. |
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Information provided by G Crewther presented by R King |
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If Interested in joining the Senior Social Tennis Program Contact Rex Cave : Telephone: 9336 1133 Email: rexjude@bigpond.com |
