For many years my family and I would spend a couple of weeks after Christmas on the Mornington Peninsula, holidaying everywhere from Rosebud, Rye and Tootgarook to Portsea.
We’d also be glued to the telly, watching the Australian Open.
I played tennis from the age of 11 or 12 at the St Brendan’s courts, and spent many a hot, windy Saturday afternoon taking on opposition clubs at places such as Pine Lodge and Katandra West, not to mention the annual Easter tournament at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club.
So it seemed the most natural thing to save my latest book review until now.
It’s Ash Barty’s memoir, My Dream Time.
I was drawn to it also because one of my heroes is Ash’s mentor, the legend that is Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
I was interested to see how similar in temperament and approach these two champions were.
Ash addresses her First Nations background early in the book, explaining that her father took years to trace his beginnings because his family always hid them out of shame.
Ash believes this is why her father has always struggled with depression and sought the help of a family member who’s a GP, as did Ash herself when she became lonely and depressed while on the tennis circuit from an early age.
The way Ash deals with all of this is matter-of-fact and refreshing. She says she knows exactly where she comes from and couldn’t be prouder of her mob.
And this is where Ash and Evonne are now inextricably linked, as Ash embraces her love of tennis as a way of engaging and encouraging First Nations children.
Ash says Evonne has been there for her every step of the way.
The book leaves the reader in no doubt as to why Ash left the life of a tennis pro behind.
It’s clear she would have done it earlier if not for the responsibility she felt to pay back her family and tennis team for helping her conquer her inner demons and achieve such heights.
Several years ago I interviewed Evonne Goolagong Cawley when she came to Shepparton to introduce First Nations children to tennis.
I came away from that encounter walking on air and inspired by such a humble, smart, funny hero of mine.
I suspect I might experience similar feelings if and when I ever have the good fortune to meet Ash Barty.
• My Dream Time by Ash Barty is published by HarperCollins.
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