Harry Stewart was made a life member of the MTC in June 2010.

Committee Member Hugh Frostick interviewed Harry for the local prees, the Hutt News and the Maungaraki Views newsletter

Here are the articles.

HUTT NEWS - 22nd June 2010: LIFE MEMBERSHIP FOR TENNIS ACE

By Dr Hugh Frostick

Maungaraki Tennis Club had a very special evening at their annual prize giving last Wednesday, when popular club stalwart and Foundation Member Harry Stewart was conferred with Life Membership.  Harry has done much for the club in its 38 years, from hard graft in the grounds to being Club President from '95-'97.  At the age of 80 he still plays throughout the year, being more hardy than some of his younger club mates who find it too chilly in Winter!

The evening started with a fun Yankee Tournament where all the players were very keen having been rained off for some weeks; the format provided joviality and good social tennis as usual.  Next up was the food and prize giving (results on the www.mtc.co.nz website) in the upstairs pavilion, which boasts a new kitchen thanks to a grant from NZCT, sponsorship from Kitchens on Thorndon and a lot of hard work from some of our members.

The highlight of the evening was of course the presentation of a commemorative plaque to Harry by Club Paton Barrie Shute, who quipped "I remember when Harry started playing for the club in 1973 - I thought he was old then!"  Len Kane added a few words about the early days with his friend whom he had introduced to the club during formation.
President Ray Heenan recalled the first time he played Harry and was waiting for the first serve; "Harry tossed up of the ball and I thought to myself 'That wasn't too high, there won't be much to deal with.'  I was rather surprised as it whistled by me before I heard Harry cheekily enquire 'Were you ready?'".  Ray also mentioned Harry's great sense of fair play and enjoyment of the game - with which all concurred.  If some young whippersnapper does a drop shot at the net beyond his reach he will cheerily call "Good shot" with a little chuckle - and he really means it.
In front of a good gathering of family and club friends, Harry gave a humorous acceptance speech in which he appeared to use some creative accounting with his age!  He joins the ranks of our life members, all bar one of whom were in attendance to enjoy the occasion.

The club looks forward to many more seasons of tennis with Harry.

Maungaraki Views July 2010:  80 and still Playing Tennis
by Dr Hugh Frostick

Perhaps you saw my article in the Hutt News about Maungaraki Tennis Club conferring Life Membership on Harry Stewart. Harry has been playing tennis since the club began in the early 70s and, having recently passed his 80th birthday, he is still going strong! Between our Twilight League games last week I asked him about his 38 years with the club.

My first question was "How long have you lived in Maungaraki?" to which Harry replied "I don't! I've lived in Normandale since 1956 which is before this suburb existed!" to which I joked about the quality of my research and added "If you're not a Maungarakian, this interview is over!" Harry conceded that he might have considered moving here in preference to Normandale if he'd had the choice, so we continued!

How did you get involved with the Club?
I was brought up in Seatoun and lived in Island Bay after Fay and I got married. My work at Feltex Footwear in Railway Avenue brought us to Lower Hutt. A workmate was Len Kane and it was he who asked me to join when they were getting the club started. Roy Ives [the husband of Isobel Ives, a fellow life member] built the clubhouse and I was one of those who helped with the interior and grounds. We did many fundraiser sausage sizzles, gambling evenings and raffles to raise funds for the club. Former Mayor John Terris was our first Patron and an MP at that time, and he told me he remembers taking our raffle tickets into parliament to sell!

You were on the committee, weren't you?
Yes and I was president for a couple of years. I remember we had a meeting and one fellow kept saying 'yous' instead of 'you' until Murray [Hodgson] or I eventually said "We are not sheep - 'you' is the word you're after!" I got into trouble once as two youngsters were playing in the club champs and their game went on beyond the start time of twilight, and some of the members were getting a bit cross that I didn't stop them - I had to in the end, but it wasn't their fault they ran over as they were having such a good match.

When did you start playing?
I was a beginner at primary school in Worser Bay, then as an adult I played with a casual tennis group in Seatoun. I didn't play for 20 years or so until I started here and have played continually since. I do enjoy my tennis, and very much like the company here.

How do you see the club today?
I was one of those who wasn't sure about the cost of the new kitchen, but I think it's looking marvellous now and will be an asset. Tennis wise, I think it's very good to have such a healthy membership of juniors, they are the future of this club when the old 'uns like me go off to play bowls and so on; it's very pleasing for me to see the young ones being coached including my grandsons, Michael and Daniel.
We used to have social club days on Sunday where we had 20 or more members turn up with their families - friends like the Kanes, Bernard Gresham, Cheryl & Clive Graham; there was more social atmosphere generally in the suburb, but this has changed with the times now that people do shopping and work and other things on the weekends. We also had a little bar up here in those days and stayed quite a while after playing, perhaps we were not fully aware of little things like licensing.
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I will close with a lovely comment from Club Paton Barrie Shute when he presented Harry with his commemorative plaque: "I remember when Harry started playing for the club in 1973 - I thought he was old then!". I think it's marvellous that Harry is still playing good tennis at his age; my mother is 78 and she is still playing, which gives me hope that I'll be able to as well! Thanks Harry, I and fellow members of the club look forward to enjoying many more seasons of tennis with you.