Graham Storey (PLTC Player of the Year) Award

Established in 2019 to pay respect to current and past tennis greats of the PLTC. The perpetual “PLTC Senior Player of the Year” award was appropriately named in honour of a club legend Mr. Graham Storey.

Graham Storey joined Patterson Lakes Tennis Club (PLTC) in the 1990’s, coming to us from Cranbourne South Tennis Club. He is one of the longest serving members of the club’s history to date.

Graham originally played mixed doubles in Peninsula Tennis Association (PTA), before playing in men’s doubles teams in PTA, Bayside and Waverley, as well as a few seasons in Tennis Victoria Men’s Doubles Veterans Pennant. Graham also played in teams with several Life Members including Chris & Sue Dixon, John Corp, Rob Sack, and Dean O'Bree, as well as many other long serving members of the club.

Graham was a member of several teams to win the allusive “Grand Final” over the years, the most recent being Waverley Men’s Doubles Section B1 in 2016/17. Graham’s greatest tennis winning season was a Tennis Victoria Veterans Pennant flag.

Graham played night tennis for several seasons, only stopping because he could no longer see the ball at night. Graham was able to return to night tennis in 2018/19, enjoying the social aspect immensely.

The club's bar opened around the same time that Graham joined the club. It was common for up to 50 people including social members and opposition teams to have a few drinks and some food at the club well past tennis had finished. Graham enjoyed a few drinks, often saying "a man is not a camel", and we jokingly used to say that the bar would not have survived without Graham to support it. Graham originally drank VB, but when they changed the formula in 2009, he switched to Carlton Draught. When VB changed the formula a few years later, Graham refused to go back, and stayed an avid Carlton Draught supporter.

Graham donated a dart board to the club and was quick to challenge anyone to a game, even bringing his own special darts. He also regularly bragged about how he could beat his friends on the court, even after an afternoon of competition. Sometimes Graham’s bragging did not match his effort on the court, but that did not deter Graham from challenging them next time.

While Graham never served on the committee, he was always there and happy to help the club any way he could. Graham supported or ran meat raffles, Bunnings BBQ fundraisers, working bees, and in 2019 supported with the patio surrounds at the club room providing a better entertainment area. Graham was always there to help when he could.

Graham suffered a few injuries over the years, having had 2 hip replacements, eye surgery and hand surgery, it felt like nothing could stop the true force of Graham returning to tennis. However, in 2018 Graham did not feel well, believing it to be high blood pressure. However, scans confirmed it was brain cancer. Sadly, Graham was unable to win this match and we lost a great one in 2019. Graham will always be remembered as true club Legend and missed by all who knew him.

Graham Storey, club legend, tennis super star and true inspiration who always displayed leadership, respect, and a willingness to lend anyone a helping hand. Graham was a successful businessman, a family man, a father, husband, uncle, a grandpa, and friend to many. It is a great honour to be able to name the PLTC Senior Player of the year after such an amazing inspirational man. May the legend of Graham Storey live on for decades to come.