After an incredible half-century spent nurturing the tennis talents of Newcastle, Margaret Wilks has finally decided to put down her coaching racquet. The beloved 83-year-old from Valentine leaves behind a legacy built not just on skill, but on a profound love for the game and the people who play it.
The Simple Philosophy Behind Five Decades
For Wilks, the formula for a fulfilling 50-year coaching career was refreshingly straightforward. "Enjoy what you do," she states. "If you can't have fun, don't do it. Love it, especially sport. It was brilliant. Not many people can say that. Everything was great." This genuine passion became the cornerstone of her teaching, endearing her to generations of players in the Valentine and Eleebana areas.
Though she has officially retired from active coaching, her connection to the courts remains strong. "My racquet is still in the car," Wilks admits, and she plans to be a regular spectator. "Every Tuesday, I still come down and watch the kids. It's just the people, fabulous people. That's what I miss." She cites her body, not her enthusiasm, as the reason for stepping back.
A Lifelong Journey from Garage Door to A-Grade
Wilks's own tennis story began in Mayfield. Her father worked at BHP, where she had her first hits on the company courts. She then honed her skills in a quintessentially Australian fashion: hitting a ball against the family garage door and later cycling to Newcastle Boys High to practice against a brick wall.
Her serious playing career started at 28, progressing rapidly from the gravel courts at Belmont to Kotara, and finally to competitive A-grade matchplay at Newcastle District courts in Broadmeadow within just four years. Coaching wasn't initially on her radar until she was asked to help children at the Valentine courts near her home. This casual request sparked a lifelong vocation.
Together with her late husband, Peter, Wilks took over Valentine Junior Tennis. "We got bigger and bigger and bigger, and I loved it," she recalls. The courts at Valentine now proudly bear Peter's name. For decades, she also welcomed students from Valentine Public School every Friday afternoon, making tennis a staple of local childhoods.
Leaving a Legacy of Bluntness and Heart
Wilks coached all ages and, in many cases, three generations of the same family. Her blunt, dry sense of humour became her trademark, creating a unique and trusted bond with her students. Derek Cagney of Cagney Tennis Academy, where Wilks coached after wrapping up her own business in 2012, highlights this special quality.
"Everyone loved her, loved chatting with her, loved her dry sense of humour and wit," Cagney said. "Margaret was someone that the kids could talk to, as a friend, and as a mentor. She still continues to come to the courts... and tells the coaches how it's done."
This mentorship has directly influenced the next wave of coaches. Paris Cagney, 21, who worked with Wilks for eight years, credits her with shaping her coaching style. "Margaret's very blunt, but in a good way," Paris said. "Blunt and light-hearted. She has a dry sense of humour with the kids and that's not something you see in coaches these days."
Wilks sees a bright future for local tennis in the hands of young coaches like Paris and 23-year-old Leonora Radocaj. As for her own enduring impact, it's measured in the simple, daily interactions. "Every day, if I go out, people come up to me and say, 'Hello, are you still coaching? You coached my kid'," she says. "The dads of these kids, I coached as little kids." It is this lasting, multi-generational connection that truly defines the legacy of Margaret Wilks.
