Tennis is Roy Roweth's real passion.
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Mr Roweth, a farmer, has been playing on the sand courts at Spring Hill since he was 12 - and been maintaining the courts for the community for nearly as long.
He has just been nominated for the NSW/ACT Regional and Community Achievement award, specifically the Department of Planning and Industry Individual Excellence in Crown Land management award for his many years of looking after the tennis courts.
"I've been playing on the Recreation Ground courts for nearly 70 years. I was still going to school when I started marking and doing maintenance on the courts," he said.
"I love the game of tennis. I reckon it's a real family game, tennis. People of all ages can play."
His parents, children and grandchildren have all played on the courts. And when they are old enough he hopes his great-grandchildren will also play there.
I love the game of tennis. I reckon it's a real family game, tennis. People of all ages can play.
- Roy Roweth, Spring Hill tennis courts
Mr Roweth said he had received a service recognition certificate from the Lands Department for his years of work on the courts but was blown away by the regional achievement award nomination.
"It is something I always enjoy playing. I still can't get over the shock. It's something I love doing. I'm lost of words," he said.
Mr Roweth said only social games were played on the courts now but he recalled how weekly competition games were played there for many years up to about 2000.
He was nominated for the award by the Recreation Ground committee.
In its submission it said Mr Roweth maintains "the only usable sand courts in the Central West" for games twice a week.
"Roy attends the grounds every Tuesday morning to set up for the mid week tennis matches for the locals, ensuring the club house is set up, courts are marked, nets up, courts rolled and prepared for matches," it said.
"Roy doesn't have a budget, his only income is what is raised off the courts which is no more than $30. This pays for power.
"He doesn't get depressed, he just keeps working for the community, tennis club and local residents with no complaints."
Nominations for the awards, to be decided in eight categories, close on July 31 with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in Sydney later this year.
Two Orange organisations have also been nominated for awards.
The Allity Calare home in March Street has been nominated for the Prime Super Employer Excellence in Aged Care award while the Orange Visitor Information Centre has been nominated for the Ricoh Australia Customer Service Award.
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