Theodoros Kotsabakidis passed away in 2012. He generously left money in his will to be used towards a scholarship fund within the sport of tennis. In Mr Kotsabakidis’ will, it was stated that the scholarship fund was aimed at assisting young Australians who demonstrate “potential to compete in the sport of tennis at an elite level but would otherwise not be able to pursue that potential”.
The life of Theo:
Born in 1931 in the small village of Neraida, Greece, Theo had minimal education and spent the later part of his childhood as a shepherd as well as in various manual labour jobs. When the civil war broke out, he made his way to Athens as a teenager with near to no money. A decision was made to find a better life, and a combination of luck and sheer determination landed him a passage on the ship “Hobart” and in 1956 he arrived on Australian soil and made his way to Melbourne. He learned English quickly and gained work wherever he could, eventually purchasing a business that thrived under his strong work ethic until his death in 2012.
Being his own boss required lots of early mornings, hard physical work, and long hours. To relax he took up playing tennis, an outlet that made him very happy. He became heavily involved with Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Association, never missing the Labour Day long weekend competition, playing and also sponsoring one of the trophies.
Theo was incredibly kind to those in need, he would help in any way he could. So many people benefited from his generosity, and it was his specific wish that generosity be continued after his death. He was a humble yet inspirational man, proof that where you start in life need not have a bearing on where you end up.
In accordance with Mr Kotsabakidis’ wishes, Tennis Australia has established the Theodoros Kotsabakidis Tennis Scholarship (TKTS) in Mr Kotsabakidis’ honour. The TKTS will give junior tennis players the best chance of fulfilling their dream of becoming elite professional tennis players. The scholarship has two key criteria for selection.
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