Louise Pleming’s Rally4Ever tennis program fosters social connections in western NSW

Mental health programs don’t usually come with a tennis racket and ball, but Grand Slam commentator Louise Pleming is changing that.

The positive impact from an occasional punch through the nets with a homeless man in Sydney sparked an idea in Ms Pleming that led her to form the non-profit group Rally4Ever, which now spans western New South Wales.

She may have 12 International Tennis Federation doubles titles under her belt and has coached elite players like Jelena Dokic, but Pleming said her tennis these days is not about trophies, but about building relationships.

“Social connection is so important for mental well-being. It’s the most important thing,” she said.

“Sometimes we might be sitting next to someone and we don’t know how to start a conversation.

“But when you’re on a tennis court, it’s so easy to laugh and it’s really easy to encourage someone.”

Rally4Ever already operates in more than 20 locations across eastern NSW, providing free weekly tennis programs to more than 12,000 participants.

Pleming hopes to increase those numbers by expanding to the western part of the state.

A program that makes sense

At least 40 children attended the Rally4Ever launch in Nyngan, one of 11 rural towns where Ms Pleming stopped with her team of professional coaches last month.

Mission Australia social worker Tara Brookman works with homeless children aged 12 to 15, some of whom attended the session.

“A lot of kids have a hard time accessing support systems; they’re very disadvantaged in that regard,” she said.

“We have so many programs that are just for fun, but we need more programs that focus on mental health.”

Hopes for an indigenous tennis center

The programme is supported by Ian Goolagong, the only Aboriginal person to ever play at Wimbledon and brother of former world number one Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.

“It’s a great idea,” Mr Goolagong said after coaching a group of teenagers in Nyngan.

“The idea is to help mental health.

There’s not really a lot of people who go out and do that in different places.

The 63-year-old has worked as a coach with Tennis Australia and the Evonne Goolagong Foundation and said there were plans to establish a centre for indigenous tennis players in Condobolin.

The town was the first stop for Rally4Ever on its tour of western NSW and more than 120 children turned up to play.

Other towns on the two-week tour included Girilambone, Lake Cargelligo, Dubbo, Brewarrina and Walgett.

Local coaches in each city are supported by Rally4Ever headquarters to continue regular tennis sessions.

Mr Goolagong said these coaching sessions often focused on more than just tennis.

“Since I started coaching, I’ve become a counselor because all the kids come to me with their problems,” he said.

Cast a wide net

Ms Pleming said adult involvement is just as important as children’s.

“We need to get adults to love this game again, and then it will last longer,” she said.

Denise O’Malley travelled 45 kilometres to Nyngan from the nearby town of Hermidale with her two children Joseph, five, and Niamh, three, expecting to just watch her children play.

Instead, she found herself on the court in flip-flops, serving the ball to other parents.

“I thought it would just be some tips on how to hold the racket and things like that,” O’Malley said.

“I came so the kids could have a look and I had a great time. It’s a great thing in every way for mental health, for social connection with the community, for fun and for coordination.”

Pleming said the enthusiasm shows how much of an impact a simple gathering can have.

“(Mental health) is not an easy subject, but if everyone plays their small part, we create a bigger network and more of a support network, and that’s all we can do.”