ALREADY well known as a life member and huge contributor to the Numurkah Golf and Bowls Club, David Ludington added another feather to his cap on Saturday evening, when the same honour was bestowed on him by the Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club.

Luddo was somewhere about the age of 14 when he joined the Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club, having started his tennis career with St Johns. But golf soon became the youngster’s unusual passion, and he put tennis on the back burner for a while.

After filling-in a couple of times for his wife Jenny’s team in the 2002/03 season, David decided that he would give tennis another go, and it was no time at all before he was back on the committee.

David became vice president a year later, serving four seasons in that role, before stepping up to the president’s role for nine terms until handing over the reins at the club’s most recent annual meeting.

But, of course, that doesn’t mean that he has stepped away completely, still remaining on the committee and helping out anywhere he sees a need.

During his time as president, David also acted as bar manager, an unusual role for a non drinker, and spent many mornings at the club, re-stocking the bar for the coming week, but only after he had written the club’s weekly social media wrap-up, and a report for the Numurkah Leader, which he has done for more than 10 years.

For 14 seasons, he has been the chief organiser of the club’s annual twilight competition and, together with Jenny, has run and hosted the club’s annual trivia night, which has been crucial to the club’s financial well-being.

A keen music lover, some years ago David decided to set himself up with some DJ gear, and he has added some terrific atmosphere to the club’s annual tournament, of which he has been a major organiser, providing music for a light-hearted Saturday twilight event.

A tough competitor both on and off the court, Luddo’s real passion for tennis, though, comes out on the court. He has won five premierships with the club, and been captain of his beloved GM3 Penguins since the 2012/13 season.

David tried to get his two children involved in the game, too, and his son Nick also played in four of those five premierships.

Sarah, on the other hand, according to David, had an argument with her brother on the court very early in her career, and has never picked up a racquet since.

Luddo says it is the people that make the club what it is, and it is a special place to be.

“They are just a great bunch of people, all working for the good of the club.

“While we are all very competitive about our tennis, everyone goes to have a good time, and it’s very social,” he added.

“I am very honoured and humbled to be awarded life membership of a club that means so much to me, it was very unexpected.

“I just can’t say enough about the people and the atmosphere at this club.”

Having only just stepped down from the president’s role, David was also full of praise for new president Catherine Church.

“Catherine is doing a cracking job,” he added in his usual jovial manner.

The club invited all surviving life members to Saturday night’s event at the golf club, and it looks like this could become an annual thing.