Dalby Ladies' Croquet Club celebrates its third birthday

H*eading: CROQUET CLUB Birthday at Dalby TROPHIES PRESENTED*

*Newspaper: The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette*

*Date: Friday 28 April 1939, page 7*

*Found on: [Trove](https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article285653493), National Library of Australia*

DALBY, Thursday.—In perfect weather the Dalby Ladies' Croquet Club this afternoon entertained players and friends in the celebration of the club's third birthday. The club house was decorated most attractively in the club colours, from the ceiling being suspended large flower baskets filled with golden chrysanthemums and antignum from which came streamers in blue and gold. The tables were adorned with zinnias and blue and gold paper napkins. Novelty croquet games were played and a jumble stall was held. Mrs. E. J. Starling was in charge of the games and Mesdames J. Welsh, E. S. Coutts and J. Shill were in charge of the stall. Mrs. W. Hoffman was doorkeeper. Winners of games were: Crazy competition, Mrs. Crozier (Toowoomba); ball competition, Mrs. V. Irvine; golf competition, Mrs. Irvine; making names, Mrs. A. H. Addison.

The birthday cake, which was admired, was made by the president (Mrs. W. H. Coulson) and was in the form of a complete croquet lawn, coloured cocoanut forming the lawn, which was marked ready for play and had hoops, the home peg and four balls. The cake was cut at afternoon tea and served to members by the past president (Mrs. A. White).

The president thanked visitors and members for having come to the celebration. She referred to the visitors from Toowoomba (Mesdames Flegler, Crozier, Baker and Dent) and thanked them for having travelled such a distance to be present at the Dalby Club's anniversary. She extended her thanks to members who had assisted her and done so much to make the afternoon a success.

Mrs. White thanked the president for having granted her, as past president, the honour of cutting the cake. During the year trophies had been competed for by members in a friendly spirit and she was glad that members had entered the competition in such a wholehearted and friendly way. She considered that playing for trophies promoted a higher standard of play and also helped members to gain a better knowledge of the game. She thanked all members who had helped during the year in which she had been president. She hoped that in the future members would still play for trophies and that the club would have many happy years. She expressed the wish that the new president would have a successful year.

The president stated that the club's first president, Mrs. W. J. Vowles, would present the trophies won during Mrs. White's term of office. Mrs. Vowles had really the hardest job of all as she was the foundation president. Members had known nothing of the game and Mrs. Vowles had had all the work of starting the club and instructing members.

Mrs. Vowles thanked members for having asked her to present the trophies. She was pleased to see the Toowoomba visitors present as she favoured the interchange of visitors. She congratulated the office-bearers who had been elected for the coming year and wished them every success. She considered she had spent some of the happiest days during the time prior to the opening of the club when members, at her home, had been learning to hold a mallet and the fundamental rules of the game.

The presentation of trophies was then made, as follows: Open championship, Mrs. V. Irvine; runner-up, Mrs. A. White; B Grade competition, Mrs. A. White; B Grade handicap, Mrs. W. H. Coulson; B Grade consolation, Mrs. E. J. Starling; B Grade champion, Mrs. A. H. Addison; runner-up, Mrs. H. N. Smoothy; C Grade competition, Mrs. L. Wilson; C Grade consolation, Mrs. P. Lalor; doubles handicap, Mesdames H. N. Smoothy and E. S. Coutts; runners-up, Mesdames A. White and J. Shill; consistency, Mrs. Smoothy; queen of the lawn, Mrs. Irvine.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 28 April 1939. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)