JOHN Forrest Secondary College will replace Australian tennis legend Margaret Court as patron of its tennis academy with a “high profile tennis player” because her views on family and sexuality did not align with the college’s.
Eastern Reporter reported earlier this week that Court had decided to step down after four years in the position because she felt it was a commitment she could not continue with.
Court said due to increasing commitments in the Victory Life Centre church, she was unable to support all the organisations she once did and so gave her formal withdrawal from the position and thanked them for the privilege of being patron for four years.
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READ NOWHowever, Eastern Reporter can reveal that a letter addressed to Court on June 7 from the college board’s chairwoman Megan Lloyd, passed on by Court’s personal assistant, challenged Court over her views.
The letter stated: “As we consider the future, the Board of John Forrest thought that it was appropriate to highlight the core values that guides our school: inclusivity, acceptance and care for others; the provision of a friendly, inclusive, safe and welcoming environment for all.
“Specifically, the views (Court) hold concerning family and sexuality significantly diverge from those held by this school.
“Accordingly, we ask you to confirm that your views align with our college and will allow you to be promoted to our students as someone who values diversity and inclusivity, is accepting of race and cultural difference and will happily accept people with different sexualities.”
In September, Court was dumped by Cottesloe Tennis Club as its vice-patron.
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