Cherry Street celebrates championships, anniversaries and its first junior member

Club Championships are in full swing at Cherry Street CC Ballina, with large numbers entered and all the championships proving challenging.

Division 3 Golf Singles went to James Bate, with Andrew Mangan runner up. James and Andrew also entered the Golden Mallet at Southport and were rewarded for their consistency, being crowned runners up in a close final, 5/6, to Julia Tai (Southport) and Ros Crowe (Toronto), after going through their block undefeated. It was a great effort from James and Andrew. Wendy Gilmore and Christine Edlund also entered and finished a creditable 4th in Block A.

Lorraine Whiteman, aged 92 and the club's oldest playing member, and Ruby Siviour, the youngest at 11, have one ambition in common: to enjoy playing croquet. Lorraine is going into her 19th year playing croquet and is still very active, still plays a good hard game and certainly matches it with the younger players. She says she is so happy the club has opened up to juniors and welcomes Ruby with open arms. Lorraine is quite content to play socially and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and socialising at the Cherry Street Club. She is loved by all members.

Cherry Street Croquet Club recently combined its 14th Anniversary celebration with a charity fund raising day. A wonderful day was enjoyed by all, with the special occasion being the cutting of the cake by foundation members Albert Biggs, Jean Biggs and Noelene Barnes.

The club raised $1,420 on the charity fund raising day for its nominated community cause, Ballina Hospital Auxiliary. Robbie Allen, a Ballina Hospital Auxiliary member for 22 years and club member for 14 years, was very pleased with the day and thankful to all involved.

Peter Hume was recently presented with his 10 years contribution and service with the club certificate by Club President Christine Edlund. Congratulations Peter on joining a long list of 10 year members.

Peter Hume receiving his 10 years contribution and service certificate from Club President Christine Edlund.

Croquet for Kids

Woo hoo! In early April 2024, Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club received and accepted its first ever junior membership application from 10 year old Ruby.

After unsuccessfully trying to attract junior members and players via occasional hosting of senior school students over a couple of years, the club had pretty much given up on that cause. By chance, in early February 2024, the club hosted the Directors of its parent, Cherry Street Sports, and their partners, for an afternoon of Twilight croquet. Ruby, granddaughter to one of the Directors, came along as well and, after hitting a few balls off the lawns during the first game, happily accepted the offer to participate in the following two games.

Ruby enjoyed herself so much she asked, and the club agreed, if she could come back and play in Tuesday GC Twilight. On the second Tuesday, Ruby arrived in her new white croquet shoes and informed members she had started saving for her own mallet.

Ruby and the Chiefs during Twilight croquet at Cherry Street.

Ruby's enthusiasm quickly got the club into top gear and it launched the Croquet for Kids program of five free lessons and no green fees for juniors until 30 June 2024, courtesy of Cherry Street Sports.

Fliers and posters were distributed around Ballina, including schools and community noticeboards, combined with promotion on radio, various websites and social media, and 11 members confirmed their Working With Children's Check (WWCC). When the program commenced on 9 April 2024, the club had not received any interest. A few members attended in the hope there might be people who had seen the promotion. None did, but Ruby was there with her friend Grace. The following week, Ruby and Grace were back with Joy, another of their friends. A week later, two of Joy's older teenage sisters were there to give croquet a go. By 30 April 2024, the club had five juniors regularly attending.

Junior players in Cherry Street Sports Club uniforms on the lawn.

The club is excited about the interest in croquet from these juniors and hopes they spread the word to others who may also enjoy it. It is also fortunate to have members support junior croquet development, with about 20% willing to volunteer their services on a Tuesday afternoon.

Special mention goes to Bob Berry from Chatswood Croquet Club and Tere Sheehan, General Manager of Cherry Street Sports Group. Bob willingly shared Chatswood's experience and intelligence of its junior croquet program, which ably assisted Cherry Street. Tere supported the program with no membership or green fees for juniors to 30 June 2024, and also sponsored a mallet for the first junior croquet member, which was recently presented to Ruby.

Two Cherry Street junior program participants on the lawn with a mallet.

Croquet is alive and well at Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club. To know more about the junior program, contact Secretary David Scott at cherrystreetcroquet@yahoo.com.

By Greg Porter and David Scott, Cherry Street. From the Croquet Newsletter, May/June 2024, pages 12-15.