In the sport of Tennis, it is very difficult for country students to get the tough competition needed to advance and improve their rankings when most of the tournaments where competitors can gain valuable ranking points and experience are held in Sydney.  Just to come down for one tournament takes at least twelve hours travelling time and the cost for families can be very hard to meet.  Short of students coming to live with friends or relatives in Sydney, which splits close families, and attending the Sydney Distance Education School there are few viable alternatives. 

Zoe Devlin (Wyrallah PS) was recently identified at the 2008 Optus 12s Australian Tennis Championships, held in Gosford, as a player to watch in the future.  Zoe has represented North Coast in the NSWPSSA Tennis Championships and is a member of the North Coast Academy of Sport and Tennis NSW National High Performance Program.  Zoe will go into high school this year at Lismore High School.

Bryce Devlin (Lismore HS) who will be in year 10 this year has captained the North Coast Regional Team for the past two years. In 2007 Bryce was the NSWCHS Under 15s Ssngles champion and also won the doubles with his partner.  Bryce has been in his school knock-out team since year 7, the year was 2005, when Lismore HS won the Stan Jones Trophy.  Bryce was also in the NSWPSSA Bruce Cup Team in 2004.

Congratulations are in order for Zoe and Bryce. They don’t have the same advantages that city students sometimes take for granted.