Provided here is a brief history of The Morton Cup.

The Morton Cup Tennis Tournament was first played in 1969 when active members Don & Vera Jenkins donated the Cup in memory of Mr. Algernon Gibson Morton (A.G.) (Mort) and his dog "Chifley".

Mr. Morton was the unpaid voluntary Caretaker/Green keeper for the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club over 28 years and was dedicated to the club. He was a school teacher and originally lived in South Warrnambool. Each day he would walk across the back of the Lawn Courts to check and maintain the courts. The remaining flowering cypress trees were planted by Mr. Morton in his spare time. He moved from South Warrnamboool to a hut on the Club grounds, where the new tournament box is today and then he and Mrs. Morton (with Chifley of course) lived in the Caretakers Cottage for years without power or running water. (At least there have been a few improvements for Andrew and Fairlie in 2002)Mr. Morton was quite an odd character and many stories are told about him, for instance, "Chifley" (named after then Prime Minister, Ben Chifley (always traveled on the front seat of the car with Mrs. Morton in the back. "Chifley" and Mort always ate together at the same table with Mrs. Morton at another table. A photo of them is on the wall of the Clubhouse. "Chifley" still remains in the grounds of the Lawn Tennis Club; he is buried under an engraved concrete slab in the front garden of the Caretaker's Cottage. The Morton Cup Tennis Tournament is run as a team event with Office Bearers as Captains. In the past it was played during the day for ladies but now it is open to any player of any standard. At the end of the competition, the members of the winning team will have their names engraved on the cup.

Do take the time to inspect the Cup and take note of the many known names that have been in the winning teams.

One day yours may be there.