Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the South Burnett town of Blackbutt will be celebrating on Wednesday 18th January when they officially unveil a life-size bronze statue immortalising Australian tennis great, Roy Emerson.
Mrs Frecklington said Roy Emerson was born on dairy farm just a few kilometres from Blackbutt and called Blackbutt home before he began his tennis career.
“This is an historic and momentous occasion for the small regional town of Blackbutt as they honour their home-grown hero, Roy Emerson,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Volunteers from the Blackbutt & District Tourism and Heritage Assoc deserve an enormous congratulations for their commitment to commissioning the statue and their daily commitment to staffing the Roy Emerson Museum.
“They have done an amazing job in raising funding for the statue, which will provide locals and tourists with an insight into this wonderfully talented tennis player and his connection to Blackbutt and the South Burnett.
“The group were successful in securing a $35,000 Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant, along with more than $37,000 pledged through various local groups and individuals.
“They also partnered with Tennis Qld, Tennis Australia and Mr Peter Rasey of Frew Park (formerly Milton Tennis Centre) in Brisbane to ensure the project had as much support as possible.
“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved by Blackbutt and look forward to officially unveiling the statue on the 18th,” Deb said.
ENDS…
Details for Unveiling of the Roy Emerson Statue
When: Wednesday 18th January at 1pm – 2pm
Where: Roy Emerson Museum, Cnr Hart St and Bowman Road, (adjacent to the Rail Trail near the Showgrounds).
Special Guests:
Background on Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson was born in Blackbutt, and is a former No. 1 tennis player who won 12 Major singles titles and 16 Grand Slam tournament men's doubles titles.
He is the only male player to have completed a Career Grand Slam (winning titles at all four Grand Slam events) in both singles and doubles.His 28 major titles are an all-time record for a male amateur player.Roy Emerson is the first male player to win each amateur major title at least twice in his career.He is one of only seven men to win all four majors in his career. He was the first male player to win 12 majors and win 6 Australian Championships.He won five of them consecutively (1963–67).Emerson is only one of five tennis players all-time to win multiple slam sets
Roy was born on a dairy farm at Nukku, a small farming district a few kilometres from Blackbutt. The old Nukku School, where Roy completed his primary years has become a museum after being relocated to alongside the rail trail in Blackbutt in 2011 and subsequently renamed Roy Emerson Museum.
The Blackbutt & District Tourism & Heritage Assoc commissioned a Life Size, Bronze Statue to honour Roy and will be situated adjacent to the Roy Emerson Museum, in Blackbutt.
