Doctor Graeme Watts had to give it some serious thought when asked if he would accept an appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia.
Honoured and surprised by the nomination, one of the driving forces behind wheelchair tennis in Australia did not feel quite worthy.
“I just think it’s instances like this where individuals don’t ever do anything by themselves,” Dr Watts, 78, said.
Dr Watts’ connection with wheelchair tennis started by chance more than three decades ago.
Working as deputy principal of the Cumberland College of Health Sciences in Lidcombe, he agreed to let the college facilities be used for fortnightly junior wheelchair games.
From this small beginning, he went on to start the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Association and became the inaugural secretary of the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation.
The former Wheelchair Sports Australia president was also instrumental in launching the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open, which continues to be held annually.
Mr Watt said he was most proud of how he had helped wheelchair tennis become part of the mainstream.
“More and more we’re getting the able-bodied generic sporting organisations taking over responsibility for some events, particularly at the elite level,” Dr Watts, of Cabarita, said.
“The turning points have not been so dramatic they have been by increments over time and that will continue. You’ve really got to be in there for the long haul.”
The former professor of behavioural science said there was still more work to be done, but the future of the sport was promising.
“We’ve just finished a wheelchair tournament that’s part of the Apia International and now there’s the Australian Open where there is a division of wheelchair. The sport has really taken an upward move.”