Caloundra hosts a bustling Gateball Carnival, names club champions, and buys a new mower

In recent times our "Masters and Apprentices" Gateball Carnival has been the noteworthy event at our club. We had 8 teams and 19 pairs competing on the three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (11-13 November). All in all there were 113 games of Gateball played. It was a very successful event that was warmly endorsed by all players and they were also very effusive in their praise of our lawns.

Events such as this require tireless planning and organization, and for this the club sincerely thanks our Gateball Captain and Tournament Manager, Robyn Brown. Robyn had a number of key offsiders, and here I acknowledge Kerry and Don Helmrich, Glenda Windust and Sue Dixon for their valuable assistance. However, the carnival would not have been a success without the support of the many members who either provided food, served food, provided raffle prizes, helped set up and/or take down each day, entered data, manned score boards or assisted in any way.

Our club sincerely thanks our two sponsors, Jason Hunt MLA and Gregson and Weight, for their generous financial support. We also thank "The Source" for its substantial raffle prize.

Carnival Results

- Team Event (8 teams): First: Rockhampton; Second: Moreton Bay 1; Third: Eildon White - Doubles (19 Pairs): First: Alan James and Geoff Morris; Second: Steve and Chris Kele; Third: Kaelan Sweatman and Emma Mauceri

Gateball Captain Robyn in action during the carnival.

Ricki Barrett during play at the Doug Jones Memorial.

The other codes have completed, or almost completed, their club competitions. The winners so far are:

Association

- Division 1: Ted Singleton - Division 2: Helen Matchett - Division 3: Sam Oaten - Division 1 and 2 Handicap: Leigh Sampson - Division 3 and 4 Handicap: Sam Oaten - Doubles: Mike Bertram and Sam Oaten

Golf Croquet

- Doug Jones Memorial (Handicaps 8-12 level play): Ricki Barrett - Division 1: Result yet to be decided - Division 2: Richard Walsh - Division 3: Almost completed

The club congratulates Mike Bertram for winning the Division 1 Association singles event at the recent Range tournament. Carole Atkinson was runner up in the division 4 event at the same tournament.

Our club has spent $17,600 to purchase a newer mower from the Beerwah Golf Club. We sincerely thank the Sunshine Coast Regional Council for the grant of $8,800 to assist with this purchase. We now have a mower to sell. If any club would like to purchase our original mower then please email the club at caloundrams@croquetqld.org.

Our contract green keeper of more than 15 years, Lou Didakis, has decided to retire. Lou's last task was the mowing and line marking of the six courts on the Thursday and Friday prior to our Gateball carnival. Lou has been passionate about the care of the lawns and we wish him well in his future aspirations. At the present time the contractors who do the morning spraying of our courts, "All Aspect Spraying", are doing the lawn maintenance.

Our Christmas lunch will be held on Saturday, 9 December. Even though this is a busy time of the year, hopefully our club members will find the time to join in this celebration.

Finally I would like to wish all a safe and happy festive season, and that 2024 is a rewarding year.

By Howard Williams, Caloundra. From the Croquet Newsletter, November/December 2023, pages 9-11.