VALE GRAEME WILLIAMS 1936 – 2018

IT IS TENNIS In Geelong’s sad duty to acknowledge the recent passing of D. Graeme Williams, an extraordinary servant to the game of tennis – and so much more.

A life member at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club and involved with the club for nearly 70 years, he served as vice-president (1971-74) and president (1974-90), maintaining a family tradition, as his father, Gordon, also held those positions some years earlier.

As an architect, Graeme drew up the plans for the clubhouse that members enjoy to this day. This was following a fire in 1975 that destroyed those clubrooms.

Passionate about the game, as a player and administrator, Graeme was instrumental in developing a restoration program on the courts, gardens, fencing and those wonderful facilities at Geelong Lawn.

Graeme’s sporting commitments went well beyond Geelong Lawn, though. He was a former president of Barwon Region Tennis Council and on the board of Tennis Victoria for 25 years and vice-president of the Australian Davis Cup Foundation for 30 years.

Not to mention connections to Geelong and Barwon Heads golf clubs, Geelong Business Club, Belmont Rotary Club. Even Geelong Football Club’s delegate to the VFL for a number of years.

In The Sweet Spot: the 100 Year History of GLTC, author Graeme Kinross-Smith stated “the club continues under the enlightened presidency of D. Graeme Williams, who has assumed, since 1974, the role which his father filled to the great benefit of the club”.

That pretty much says it all.