Local Legends: Marie Millar - Fifty Years, One Incredible Legacy

"Local Legends" is a web article series where Tennis NZ celebrates club workers and volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to improving their club and the sport. If you want to nominate someone, click here.

Marie has worn many hats in her 50+ years involved with the Masterton tennis community. Some you might expect in an article like this: Club Treasurer, Secretary, Bar Manager. But thanks to her proactive nature and willingness to get stuck in, she's also been a possum extractor and pantomime performer.

If you're not familiar with Masterton, you may not know about the stunning snow-capped views of the Tararua Ranges on occasions.

"The snow is just settling on the Tararua Ranges, which means we've survived another busy summer!" she said.

Marie has managed to keep herself busy and contributing to the Masterton tennis community for decades, and it all began with the introduction to tennis whilst at Primary School, then at Wairarapa College.

"I went to a local country school. One of the parents took a group of us kids to the domain to have a hit, which is where I held a racket for the first time."

"But my biggest memory from those early days was the first tournament I played, where my sister and I had to bike 13 miles to make it! This was not an easy ride as it took us an hour just to ride the first three miles up a hill. My sister won the tournament, and luckily Dad came through and picked us up on the way home."

You'd think a nearly half-marathon distance would deter Marie. But a common theme throughout her story is her willingness to work hard. In 1970, after leaving school and joining the Masterton Park Tennis Club, it didn't take long for her to join the committee and become Secretary.

"We had wonderful memories there, and I still have good friends from those days," Marie recalled. One standout memory was the club's unique way of raising funds, something Marie took part in each year.

"Shirley Corlett used to organise pantomimes to raise funds. They were always amateurish, some singing, some funny skits, some of the big fellas doing their best to sing or play the part of Cinderella even though they weren’t musical at all. It was hilarious, and we’d have all the tickets sold in advance.

Until the eventual amalgamation with the Masterton Tennis Club in 1995, Marie served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Bar Manager.

"The social side was massive back then. It still is now, but back then Saturday was your day for tennis. To me, that’s the value of joining a club: you come for the tennis, and stay for the community."

While the amalgamation brought change, Marie was on the transition committee to help ensure a smooth shift.

"We were a small club at Park and didn’t own the land; we leased it from the council. Combining our club with Masterton made more sense as they had more land which they owned.”

Despite the change of scenery, Marie threw herself into the new club with the same passion, continuing her roles as Secretary and Treasurer. She also began organising the Masterton Masters tournaments, managed the bar, and took on general caretaker duties at the Tennis Centre.

"You should run your club like you run your home: always looking, thinking, doing. If you see a net broken, you get on and do something about it. I've had to clean out possums, have my hands down drains, all of that. I'm lucky I've been able to do it, to keep working, and running tournaments."

With a work ethic like that, it’s no surprise Marie takes pride in what she does. When asked about her proudest moments, she didn't hesitate.

"My proudest moment in the last year or two has been helping to get the new Plexipave courts down for the juniors. As Treasurer, being able to afford that for the young kids is something I'm really proud of."

"We have a fantastic junior programme right now, and even have some high achievers. Young Freddy Lewis made the under-11 NZ team to play in Australia. Getting to wear the silver fern at any age is pretty amazing, so we're all in support of Freddy."

Marie’s club colleagues are quick to praise her reliability and incredible service.

"She is the face of the Masterton Tennis Centre. It is like a second home for her, as she takes pride in presenting the premises as the best in the Wairarapa."

Marie may not seek the spotlight, but her decades of service, selflessness, and love for the game have made a lasting impact on the Masterton tennis community. From biking to her first tournament to laying the foundations for future generations, her legacy is stitched into the very fabric of the centre. And if you ever drop by the courts, chances are you’ll find her there, not just watching, but quietly making things better, just as she always has.