VALE, DES BATH

A lifetime of service to tennis

THE recent passing of former association president Des Bath closes a special chapter in the long history of tennis in Geelong.

This small tribute to Des can but touch briefly on his contribution to the cause of tennis and of the achievements and enduring friendships made during a lifetime of service to tennis administration.

More importantly, acknowledging the man himself, his kind, supportive and generous nature – an old-fashioned gentleman, if ever there was one – and a much-loved and yes, revered person, especially within Geelong’s tennis-playing community.

Married to wife Dorothy for 57 years and a loving father to two sons and a daughter (and several grandchildren), Des was also a long-time employee at Ford Motor Company, working much of his 31 years of employment in the payroll department.

On the tennis front … well, where do you start? In the late 1970s Des was elected president of the Churches Tennis Association and held the top job for 20 years before they merged to form Geelong and Bannockburn Tennis Association, and remained as president when it became Tennis Geelong in 2002.

Des also worked on the merging of Tennis Geelong and the Geelong Winter Tennis Association (2008) and earlier was strongly involved in the creation of Wandana Heights Tennis Club (formerly Highton Presbyterian).

Life memberships followed from G. & D.C.T.A, Wandana Heights and St. Luke’s Tennis Clubs. Des was still playing, into his 80s, up to a year ago at his beloved Fyans Park courts!

A full life and so very well-lived. God bless you Des!

Des Bath 1936 – 2018