The John Laidlaw Award is presented annually to two young people who have excelled as scholarship players and made significant contribution to club activities at Kooyong.
The award is in recognition of John, one of the Kooyong Foundation’s major and most generous donors.
The winners were announced recently at the Kooyong Foundation scholarship induction event, with the awards going to Ava Beck and Diordan Macabbadad.
Macabbadad 2024 highlights included being part of the Men’s Kooyong State Grade winning team, runner up in the Mens Open singles at Kooyong Club Championships, he was a quarter finalist of singles and semi-finals of doubles at the 18/U Australian Championships, a top 10 ranked 18/U junior and a recipient of a US College tennis scholarship at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix where he has just started in January.
“A huge thank to the Kooyong Foundation for awarding this award to me and thank you for all the support over the years. I love being a part of the Club and getting down to all the different events and being involved. A major highlight for me was to be a part of the winning state grade team for Kooyong in 2024. Thank you once again.” Macabbadad said in victory speech he sent via video from Grand Canyon University.
Ava Beck’s outstanding 2024 included being a member of the winning Kooyong State Grade women’s team, representing Australia at the Junior Billie Jean King Cup World finals, she was a winner of multiple ITF junior events which culminated in a top 100 World junior ranking coming in at #86. Beck also won the 18/U singles and doubles at the Australian Championships to close out her amazing year. She is the first multiple winner of the John Laidlaw Award.
“I would like to thank David and the Kooyong Foundation, it really is an honour. What anincredible legacy. Thank you to John and his family in supporting young tennis players like myself achieve their dreams. I never met John, but I had heard wonderful stories about him and his passion for Tennis and the Kooyong Club. People like John are what community spirit is all about and he was obviously a very special person, his legacy is helping athletes like myself achieve their dreams. I am really proud to represent Kooyong and the Foundation and will continue to do so with passion. Thank you very much" Beck said.
Each player receives funding support for their tennis development. Congratulations to Diordan and Ava on their deserving recognition through this award and their continued contributions to the Kooyong Foundation and KLTC.
