Tribute to Harold Whillans

Harold Whillans was born in South Brisbane in 1914. He attended Greenslopes School until 1928. Whilst at school he represented Greenslopes at cricket, football, athletics and swimming. He was introduced to tennis in 1929 when asked to make up a four on Winks family court at Stones Corner. Subsequently the Alhambra Tennis Club was formed and his team worked their way up from 4th grade to 2nd grade winning all grade premierships. At 16 he accepted a position in Cec Cranfield’s leading Brisbane hardcourt team—Arcadia—which finished up winning the major Pennant grade competition.

Most Notable Tennis Career Performances
1932 Winner, Brisbane Suburban Hardcourt Junior Singles Championship
1933 Winner, Queensland Open Junior Singles Championship
1933 Winner, (with Bob Davies) Queensland Open Junior Doubles Championship
1934 Winner, Queensland Open Hardcourt Junior Singles Championship
1936 Represented Queensland—First Australian Open Hardcourt Championships in Sydney
1937 Winner, South Queensland Open Singles Title
1938 Represented Queensland Australian Open Grasscourt Championships played in Adelaide. Won early round matches, then played World’s No 1 and holder of the Grand Slam,Australian, French, Wimbledon, United States Open titles—Donald Budge. He managed to salvage eight games 6-3,6-2,6-3.
1938 Winner, Queensland Open Hardcourt Singles Championships
1938 Winner, (with Alf Chave) Queensland Open Doubles Title Hardcourt
1938 Winner, Southern Downs Open Singles Title
1939 Winner, Sough Queensland Open Singles Title
1940 Represented Queensland in Australian Open Grasscourt Championships played in Sydney—his last tournament before joining the Air Force in 1940.

Hal was a member of the State team from 1936 to 1940 and from 1946 to 1950. His best wins were against Viv McGrath, Dinny Pails and George Worthington. Post war, he won Open Doubles Titles in Nambour with Geoff Brown, in Gympie with John Bromwich and in Murwillumbah with Gar Moon.

 
The 1932 Suburban Junior Singles Trophy was full membership with the Queensland Lawn Tennis Association. He became a Life Ground Member in 1948 and this membership was continued until the QLTA Club was disbanded in March, 1994.

Harold enlisted in RAAF in 1940,joining as a trainee pilot, receiving his wings in Canada and being commissioned as a pilot officer. He served with 452 Squadron flying Spitfires from bases just south of London. He was discharged from RAAF in 1945 so he could re-enter commercial business activities in Queensland. Hal rejoined R.W.Webb & Co, Slazengers Queensland agent and when Dick Webb retired Slazengers opened their own branch office and warehouse and Hal was appointed Manager.

He continued playing tennis until 1950 and was a QLTA Selector and on Management & Finance Committee, a Country Board Member and a member of the Davis Cup Match Committee—in 1958 co-chairman with Alf Chave and in 1962, Chairman.

During 1950 and 1960 he concentrated more on golf, receiving help from Ossie Walker, IGC Professional. He was also more fortunate to have Norman Von Nida, Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Bruce Devlin and Bruce Crampton associated with the Slazenger Company. When they visited Brisbane, he was able to join them in practice rounds and the advice he received enabled Hal to get his handicap down to two very quickly.

In 1964 Hal and his wife left Australia permanently and took up residence in Hong Kong and set up joint bases for Slazengers England and Slazengers Australia. He traveled all round the world on business and retired in 1997. His was a remarkable life covering his sporting and business careers as well as his service for his country.