The Australian Open Trophies (men’s and women’s) were on show at Kaleen Primary School recently as part of a national tour to promote tennis and the Grand Slam event to the public. This tour of Australia is an annual road show run by Tennis Australia.

AIS athletes Luke Saville (tennis), Lauren Boden, Tommaso D'Orsogna (swimming) and Beki Lee (track and field) lent their support to the event and to inspire children to take up sport.  

The trophies, officially known as the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup are presented each year to the women’s and men’s Australian Open champions.

Kaleen primary school children had a chance to see and have their photo taken with the trophies warmly referred to as ‘Norman’ and ‘Daphne’, which were well received by the young tennis fans. 

The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup is named after Australian tennis champion Sir Norman Brookes, born in Melbourne in 1877.

The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was donated by the NSW Tennis Association in memory of Daphne Akhurst, who was born in Ashfield, NSW in 1903.  One of our pioneering female tennis champions, Akhurst won the Australian title in 1925 and 1926 and then in three consecutive years from 1929 to 1930.