Allround star athlete Marion Chappell is keeping busy during this coronavirus pandemic, at home and on the Corowa Golf Course.
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“I’m playing social golf once or twice a week, doing weight-bearing exercises, keeping on top of the garden and home, and I enjoy baking,” she told The Free Press. “I also enjoy watching sport and am an avid Carlton supporter.”
Marion took up golf back in 2009 after a knee-injury put a halt to her brilliant tennis career which she began at nine-years-of-age.
She was one of many youngsters who attended a beginner’s clinic conducted by Albury tennis coach Tony Caplice at the old Methodist Church grounds in River Street Corowa.
“It was on two hard, concrete courts, which is now the Community Vegetable Garden,” Marion recalled.
That program finished after 12 months and Marion self-taught on the family mixed farming property of her parents Nancy and Peter Larcombe, 10kms west of Corowa township past the airport.
Hitting the tennis ball against a wall and reading books on the sport which included a variety of serves - along with plenty of practice - stood her in good stead for a subsequent Saturday morning competition which was run by the late Terry Kennedy for two years.
Invited to play B Grade at Corowa Tennis Club, Marion impressed and next season was into A Reserve then, at age 17-years, A Grade.
The modest Marion couldn’t reel off all her achievements to The Free Press. But investigations revealed a stunning career of titles: Seven Singles Club Championships (81, 86, 91, 00, 03, 05, 07), 15 Doubles (80, 81, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 00, 01, 04, 06, 07) and 10 Mixed Doubles (78, 79, 80, 85, 91, 98, 99, 04, 06, 07).
“Marion’s total of 32 combined club championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles is more than anyone else has achieved,” Corowa Tennis Club President and dual singles club champion Greg Filliponi said.
“She was a tremendous player and highly regarded by all she played with and against. Marion also served several years on the club’s committee and at one point took on some junior coaching.
“I can also remember Marion as a netball player for Hopefield Buraja where she was a premiership player and was an exceptional goal shooter.”
Maree Jones had the pleasure of playing tennis, netball and golf with Marion, played competition tennis for Corowa Lawn in the Rutherglen & District Tennis Association, and also partnered together for club championships.
“We were lucky enough to take the top trophy on a few occasions,” Maree said. “Marion was also an accomplished netballer, who could play any position, but mainly in goals.
“We travelled to Yarrawonga on Wednesday nights during summer, played Wednesday mornings and Thursday nights at Morris Park (Corowa).
“We started our golfing together with Marion going on to bigger and better achievements also in this sport.
“Marion was an all-round natural sports person and a lovely person and I am lucky enough through it all to become lifelong friends.”
“In the mid 2000s, I won two titles with my son Grant – that was most special,” Marion said. “John Macpherson was the best male player I ever played with. I played with and against a lot of good players and really enjoyed the camaraderie.”
Marion is also proud of son Mark who plays very good tennis and golf in Yarrawonga. Husband Gary, a stock inspector at Rivalea and to whom she met at night tennis, is more than a handy golfer at the Corowa Golf Club which she said has “a beautiful course”.
“The greenkeepers do a marvellous job. We’re very blessed to have a course like that in town,” said Marion whose handicap nose-dived from 38 to just eight!
“I thank my parents, particularly my mother for supporting me – she made my first tennis dress – and I thank my husband for looking after the kids when I was playing tennis, often away from Corowa, in the Saturday afternoon competition.”
Her dad Peter played A Grade and Country Week for Corowa. There many happy memories at the cricket venue then, at John Foord Oval where her mum helped with the afternoon teas.
Cricket of course, has since moved to Ball Park where Marion has been following the progress of the new cricket pavilion and the next door construction of the aquatic centre.
“Corowa is a good place to bring up kids,” she said. “We used to have the indoor sports centre out the Industrial area and we are blessed with lots of good sporting facilities today and good schools.”
The manner in which Marion is referred to by all means Corowa is lucky to have her. Perhaps another former association tennis player with Corowa, John Fraser sums her up. “I just call her ’champ’,” he said.
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