LEONGATHA can lay claim to half the new Country Week Legends announced by Tennis Victoria to mark the start of its 2023 Country Week competition.
Frank Dekker
Frank Dekker started playing Country Week tennis as a sprightly 19-year-old in 1987 and since then has only missed two events.
He has been in many finals during that time and featured in the winning B1 team in the year 2000, also being part of Leongatha’s B2 premiership outfit in 2017.
Frank has fond memories of those wins.
“It was an upset against Traralgon, which was the top side because we just made the finals,” he said of the B1 triumph.
“That was pretty special and a big ride home from Swan Hill,” Frank said, recalling the exploits of teammates Greg Marshman and Frank’s fellow new Legend Neil Langstaff in winning a doubles set, 8 games to love, to get Leongatha over the line by a few games.
The B2 triumph occurred in Yarrawonga, scene of this year’s Country Week, with Leongatha comfortably defeating Mt Prospect in the final.
Frank loves the social aspect of Country Week just as much as the competitive element.
“We come up here to try to win but to enjoy ourselves as well,” Frank said.
He is a community minded person who strongly believes local sport forms the pillars of rural and regional communities.
Frank is proud to be honoured as a Country Week Legend and is delighted to see young people, including his daughters, carrying on the event’s success.
He expressed his appreciation to those daughters, Simone and Evie, for nominating him for the honour.
When Frank spoke to the Sentinel-Times on Monday he was getting set for on-court action against Devon Meadows, with a clash with Port Macquarie to follow.
Neil Langstaff
Neil Langstaff is currently enjoying playing in his 27th consecutive Country Week tennis tournament, with his C3 side having an unassailable lead over Pyramid Hill when he chatted to the Sentinel-Times about his new Country Week Legend status.
Country Week is a family affair these days, with Neil’s son Joel and grandson Zac among his C3 teammates.
Featuring in a C3 premiership with Joel and Zac last year, defeating Ballarat, was one of Neil’s Country week highlights.
Wife Jude plays in Country Week too, with her team triumphing last year.
Neil was delighted to be named as a Country Week Legend alongside mate Frank, with whom he has played a lot of tennis.
“I was shocked and it’s a great honour, and it’s terrific to share it with him,” Neil said.
Neil spoke of the large contingent representing Leongatha in Yarrawonga during the current Country Week that runs until Friday.
“I think we’ve got about 10 teams under the Leongatha banner this year,” he said.
Neil gave credit to the Leongatha businesses that support those teams and enable them to be decked out in eye-catching and identifiable outfits, with the Leongatha teams resplendent in smart navy blue and yellow this year.
The sponsors list is an extensive one, comprising Leongatha RSL, Edney’s Leongatha, S.A.F.E Scaffolding, Burchell Panels, Leongatha Garden Services, Suck it Up, and DTL Lineworks.
