Cr van de Ven was part of initial discussions with Australia’s most successful tennis player in 2008 about bringing her trophy collection and other memorabilia back to her hometown to replicate the Bradman Museum at Bowral.

He confirmed the council had spent more than $200,000 on initial planning for the museum and had held discussions with Tennis Australia about producing matching funding.

Cr van de Ven was commenting at the launch of the council’s latest exhibition at the Library Museum, Game, set match: 100 years of Albury tennis, which celebrates the centenary of the Albury Easter tournament.

“It’s not dead in the water, it needs someone to champion the funding side of things,” he said.

“We’ve done the best we can with Tennis Australia.

“Margaret Court probably needs to step up and use as much influence as she can to also talk to the state and federal governments.

“With her status as an icon of Australian sport I would have thought she would have more influence than council.”

Cr van de Ven personally inspected the trophy collection in Perth on a visit in early 2008.

Mrs Court’s husband Barry is a former president of the West Australian Liberal Party and his father Charles and brother Richard were former premiers of the state.

Grand slam trophies won by Jack Crawford, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, form part of the exhibition which officially opens today at 5pm.

Mrs Court’s racquet she used to claim her second Wimbledon title in 1965 is also part of the exhibition.

Cr van de Ven paid tribute to the longevity of the Easter tournament.

“It is a great achievement for any organisation to get to 100 years,” he said.

The exhibition continues until June 1.