In the 70-year history of Bunty Roles and tennis in Temora, there have been many first-class players and top-notch people, but none more so than Valerie Bent who has just celebrated her 90th birthday. Valerie has been a significant and joyous part of the many competitions and social tennis in the district since the 1950’s. Val’s parents, Reg and Margaret Reid were keen players at Mimosa and at the age of 10, Val thought it might be time to have a hit with her father after school, smashing the ball back and forth over a bit of rope strung between two posts on a clear patch of ground near the farm shed. Valerie started playing in some tournaments and at one in Wagga, where she was hitting the ball very well, she was chosen to attend a special weeklong clinic in Albury where many of the top coaches gathered. This began Reg’s many trips from farm to town, a 60 kilometre round trip, not only to play but also purchase racquets at Cooper and Deals and tennis attire. He often said, “If you are to play tennis, you should look the part.” The records show Valerie became so adept in all facets of the game, she was crowned Temora Junior Champion in 1951, 52 and 53. She still has the prize, a maroon and gold blazer, stored in mint condition. Early on in high school, Valerie and her cousin Joyce Reid (Haddrill) sought permission to leave school one afternoon a week to play in the Bunty Roles competition and thus started a lifelong love of the game. Valerie was part of the backbone of the Bunty Roles competition with several hundred women participating every Tuesday afternoon. She started with a handicap of 40 behind, which she had from 1954 to 1981. She says it wasn’t just the physical side of the game she loved, but also the friendships. “Money can’t buy the friendships we made through Bunty Roles,” she said. Naturally many of those friends were in the long standing Brabin’s team of Val, Alma Brabin, Amy Stimson, Fay Savage, Muriel Tetley, Elva Mooney and Marje Whitla. Another major tournament of the time was Intertown tennis. It was a monthly competition during winter and the teams travelled to Cootamundra, Young, Grenfell, Forbes, Parkes, Cowra and West Wyalong. At one stage Temora won 11 consecutive years, an outstanding achievement in a very, very competitive competition. Tennis also brought Valerie the strongest friendship and love of her life. She literally bumped into her husband to be, Alan, on the steps of the tennis club. He was clearly impressed by her talent and they married in 1958. For many years the tennis club ran the Victor Edwards coaching clinic for children which was enormously popular. The club also ran a yearly Club Championship and for three consecutive years, 1970, 71 and 72, Valerie and Valda Hodge were doubles champions. In 1978, Val and a young Kathy Bland were A grade Champions and Val won mixed doubles with Barry Hambridge. Another tournament was Country Week where players from all over NSW came together at White City in Sydney. Val played for several years with Lyn Pearce, Iris Colwill, Valda Hodge, Fay Savage, Sylvia McMahon and Helen Miller. The town also sent a men’s team of Alan Bent, Barry Hambridge, Bruce Cormack, Ernie Brabin and Andy Blowes. As the Bent family grew, they travelled to Albury every Easter, camping by the river next to the courts. Their children Margaret, Peter, Heather and Ian were naturally infected with the tennis bug. Others who travelled to this tournament were Neil Drummond, Fay Savage, Lyn Pearce and a young Helen Miller. The club also had a very popular Saturday afternoon competition at which all the Bents played. (Photo) Later Valerie and Alan played a lot of Sunday morning social tennis at Bradley’s court on Victoria Street. Fellow players were John Porter, Ken McDougall, Cecil Kalms and Les Shoard. When not playing they were also doing regular working bees to help maintain the Temora courts and Clubhouse. Valerie Bent has been an integral part of the Temora tennis scene and Bunty Roles, both enjoying the game and promoting it and the community she lives in. In honour of her work, she was named Citizen of the Year in 1986. Anyone involved in Temora tennis will recall Val’s infectious laugh, ferocious spirit of enjoyment, her kind but determined competitiveness and that great cross court forehand. A very happy 90th Birthday Val, from everyone at Temora Tennis. Success over the many years has been very much attributed to your involvement in the great game of tennis in Temora.
