Ladies charity tennis tournament serves $6000 to Women's Refuge

Vicky Danfield (left) and Bronwyn Clayton playing in a charity tennis tournament which raised thousands for the Hastings Women's Refuge. Photo / Paul Taylor

The bathrooms in a Hastings Women's Refuge safe house will receive much-needed renovations this year thanks for the fundraising efforts of a group of local women.

More than 60 women took to the courts last month as part of an organised ladies charity tournament to raise money for the Women's Refuge.

Event co-organiser Sue Lock said the event raised about $6000 and was a hit with all the women involved who were "hugely enthusiastic" about supporting the cause.

"We just thought rather than doing drinks it would be fun to do something where everyone is participating.

"It was great, the feedback has been incredible so we're hopeful to make it an annual event at the same time of the year."

The money was raised through tournament entry fees and a raffle, comprised of goods donated from local business.

Lock said the generosity of the community meant there was no cost in hosting the event and all of the money raised was able to be donated to the Hastings Women's Refuge.

Event co-organiser Anna Jepson said the event was a "great day out" for all participants who were eager to get behind the refuge's work.

"There is a network of people who try to make a difference and keep families safe from domestic violence. Next year we plan to raise more money."

Hastings Women's Refuge manager Julie Hart said the amount of money raised was "well beyond" her expectation and would be used to renovate not one but two bathrooms in a safe house that were in desperate need of a makeover.

"As you can imagine it was originally built as a house for one family and we have five families living in it so it gets quite worn down and the repairs and maintenance bill can be quite horrific."

She said the ladies' work was particularly helpful as they handled every aspect of the event's organisation.

"It was fantastic when Sue and her team of wonderful women came up with the idea and did all the work around finding participants and promoting it. It's so much better for us because it doesn't pull us away from doing our day to day work."

Hart said anybody wanting to organise similar fundraising events were welcome to get in touch with their local Women's Refuge.

"Without the generous support of the community we couldn't continue to provide the services to women and children affected by violence."