Biggest Morning Tea, a defibrillator and a Gala Centenary tournament ahead at Hervey Bay

Weather/La Nina has continued to make its presence felt in Hervey Bay. No doubt many other Clubs express similar sentiments. Our lawns are well-drained and usually dry out very quickly but after so much rain in recent months the lawns are sodden and the water just does not soak in. This has meant a curtailment of play this last week much to the frustration of our Club captains who are desperately trying to complete Club championships games.

It was a shock to arrive at the Club a month or so ago to find the uprooted gumtree. We are so fortunate that it fell on one of the 'no play' days and that no cars or the Club House were in the path of its fall.

The uprooted gumtree at Hervey Bay.

One of the highlights of the month of June was the Croquet Club playing host to an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. The Club House was splendidly decorated and the 'dainty' food supplied by Club members was plentiful and delicious. The function was attended by both Club members and members of the general public and we felt privileged to raise $1,200 for the Cancer Council.

Through a grant from the Fraser Coast Regional Council the Club has been able to purchase a defibrillator which has now been installed in a prominent position in the Club House. It is hoped that we never have to use it, however it is available should the need ever arise.

As mentioned above, the Club championships are well underway. Club members recently participated in the inaugural Regional Golf Croquet Doubles competition. It was held in two Blocks and the photo shows the president of the Wide Bay region, Jenny Campbell congratulating Beverley Baker (Hervey Bay) and Erich Nussbaumer (Point Lookout) winners of the Block for 9-12 handicaps.

The president of the Wide Bay region, Jenny Campbell congratulating Beverley Baker (Hervey Bay) and Erich Nussbaumer (Point Lookout).

Late last month four members from the Hervey Bay Club represented the Region at the Centenary Ricochet Pennants competition. They were interested and amazed to see the level of the flood waters and give tremendous credit to Windsor Club for its recovery from the flooding.

Brigitte Nefzger, Jenny Campbell, Maxine O'Dwyer and Joan Mathiesen.

Serious attention is being given to the new rules for Golf Croquet. The Club is most grateful to Peter Moffat (a Club member and an examining referee) for his guidance and his presentation of the Tutorial prepared by Liz Fleming.

Preparations are well in hand for the Gala Centenary tournament to be held 6-12 August. This is a Three Code tournament and we look forward to welcoming participants from a wide area and also from inter-state.

By Coral Deeth, Hervey Bay. From the Croquet Newsletter, August 2022, pages 18, 19.