Whitehorse News - August 2022

Recently, three prominent organisations in our community celebrated significant milestones. Council congratulates the Box Hill Ballet Association, Box Hill Art Group and Box Hill Tennis Club on everything they have achieved throughout their impressive histories!

Box Hill Ballet Association

Box Hill Ballet Association celebrated their 70th anniversary on July 10 2022 with an afternoon tea, speeches, award presentations and a gathering of former and current students and their families and friends.

“Due to COVID restrictions, our initial plans to hold a celebration in mid-2021 were rescheduled to 2022. Consequently we held our Annual Performance (generally held towards the end of each year) on 21 May 2022, and our 70th Anniversary event on Sunday 10 July 2022 at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre,” said Secretary and Public Officer Margaret Orange.

This milestone was also commemorated with an exhibition of photos and costumes that was displayed in the gallery space at Box Hill Community Arts Centre (BHCAC) for the two weeks leading up to the event.

“Speeches and presentation of awards – including Life Membership to our President of 15 years, Sandra Walton – were followed by a costume parade, modelled by students, and narrated by the ballet school’s Principal, Jan Turner and student Alana Saunders,” said Margaret.

The Ballet School was established in 1951 by the former Box Hill City Council and the Citizens’ Committee for Community Activities. Today, they offer classes in Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Creative Movement, Folk/International Dance and Wu Tao. Anyone aged 3 to 93 can enquire about taking a free trial class by emailing boxhillballet@gmail.com

“We would like to thank Council for their continuing support, in the form of community grants, venue and theatre hire, wardrobe storage and, most importantly, for our home base since 1978 - the Studio on Whitehorse Road,” said Margaret.

“Special thanks also to the staff at the Whitehorse performing arts centre where we held all our Annual Performances from 1986 to 2019, and to the staff at BHCAC, where we have held classes for the past 32 years as well as our significant anniversary celebrations.”

Box Hill Art Group

Box Hill Art Group is also celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. 

The group was founded in 1952 by artist and teacher Professor Theo Scarff and has steadily grown over the years. They have been based at BHCAC since it was established 30 years ago.

“The group is a magnet for hobby painters who like to interact with likeminded people. Most of our classes are conducted in a coaching format and they tend to be very 

friendly places to paint, draw and talk about art as well as life in general. We have a number of other activities including life drawing, workshops, exhibitions and competitions as well as regular plein air sketching days,” said the group’s secretary Eric Harvey, who joined the group in the early nineties.

An anniversary exhibition will be held at Box Hill Town Hall this October. A barbecue and ceremonial time capsule installation will also take place in December at BHCAC.

“We are continuing the tradition of asking past and current members to contribute a 9x5 inch painting or message to the time capsule. We will display these works at our October exhibition,” said Eric.

Find out about the celebrations or become a member .

“Anyone can learn to draw and paint and Box Hill Art Group can make it happen for you. You will meet likeminded people and you will visit interesting places in search of the perfect image.”

Box Hill Tennis Club

Box Hill Tennis Club (BHTC) was established in 1895 on a single grass court next to the Whitehorse Road entry gates to Box Hill Cemetery.

After two years of COVID interruptions, the club was able to belatedly celebrate its 125th birthday in May 2022. 

Past and present members met at the club’s current home on the corner of Cyril and Station Streets in Box Hill South where photos and memorabilia was displayed from across the years. 

A commemorative plaque presented by Tennis Victoria was unveiled on the day along with a tree planting ceremony performed by Paul Hamer MP, Carina Garland MP and Mayor Cr Tina Liu.

Club President Peter Wright joined the club in 1966 as a ball kid for an exhibition match to mark the opening of the new courts, played by Australian tennis great Frank Sedgman. 

“I am very proud to be a Life Member of the club and still enjoy playing the game today,” Peter said.

The club has over 300 junior and senior members. Seven fully-lit, classic clay courts accommodate a wide range of tennis activities every day and night of the week. 

“The BHTC is a proud and inclusive community club offering competition and social play along with coaching for all ages.”

Get involved.