By Laura Michell
For the past seven years, Phillip Goodman has dedicated his time to referring at wheelchair tennis events.
The Mill Park resident’s efforts at national and international level have seen him become one of the go-to officials in Australia for wheelchair tennis officiating.
Mr Goodman works with Tennis Australia to help educate wheelchair tennis officials.
For his passion and dedication, he was recently named official of the year at the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards.
Mr Goodman, who is the head referee at the Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open Tournament and the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Championships and assistant referee at the Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships, hopes the award will shine a light on wheelchair tennis events in Australia.
“The award is recognition for wheelchair tennis as a specific sport,” he said.
“It has enjoyed a growth in popularity in recent years but I don’t think there is enough awareness of wheelchair tennis events. This means we don’t have as many people coming to watch events or even taking part.”
