Dalby Croquet Club annual meeting reports a busy year

In her report for the past year's activities presented at the annual meeting of the Dalby Croquet Club, the president (Mrs. W. H. Coulson) stated that the year had finished with the same number of members as at the commencement. Two members had resigned owing to their leaving the district, but two new members, Mesdames L. Orford and E. D. Slaughter, had been admitted. There were 21 members. Although the green had been open for play for the full year and the surface was fair, after a good deal of consideration by the committee, it was thought desirable to ask the Council to take care of the actual playing surface on behalf of the club. Their request was accepted and the Council had taken it over at the end of November. The green had recently been in excellent order and compared favourably with other greens on which members had been playing. It had been found necessary to purchase additional equipment in the form of two new hoses and sprinklers, and they were now ready for use. Two new sets of hoops also had been secured, as it was found that the hoops in use were not the regulation size. Thanks were extended to Mr. H. Stephens for his advice regarding their green and also to the greenkeeper of the Bowling Club for his help. During the year 176 competition games were played. Mrs. T. Jack was the winner of the B Grade singles championship and Mrs. V. Irvine the runner-up in this principal competition. The C Grade singles was won by Mrs. P. Lalor. Mrs. W. Hoffman was runner-up. Mrs. V. Irvine was the winner of the consistency competition, with Mrs. E. Starling as runner-up. They had conducted a number of competitions, due to the help of the captain and vice-captain, Mesdames V. Irvine and L. Wilson, respectively. She visited the Queensland interstate tournament games in Brisbane with Mesdames T. Jack, A. White, V. Irvine, and H. N. Smoothy, and the experience gained by those members was invaluable to the club. Mrs. Irvine at that tournament won the British Silver Medal, an honour not only for Mrs. Irvine but to the Dalby Club. She and Mesdames H. N. Smoothy, W. Quirk, V. Irvine, T. Jack, and A. White made trips to the Downs croquet carnival, run in conjunction with the Downs Centenary Celebrations recently, and although all members played well, some excellent wins were obtained. Mrs. A. White won the B and C Grade singles handicap, Mrs. T. Jack accounted for the open handicap, and Mesdames Jack and White annexed the B and C Grade doubles handicap. With these victories the Dalby Club was well represented. Visits had been paid to the West Toowoomba Club and the Toowoomba East Club, and four members of the Pittsworth Club had paid a visit to Dalby. On April 27 the club had held a birthday party in the club house, at which trophies won during the previous year were presented by the foundation president (Mrs. W. J. Vowles). The past president (Mrs. A. White) cut the birthday cake. Two euchre parties had been held in the club house, both being successful. Mr. and Mrs. Jack had given the use of their home for another successful function, a bridge afternoon. The club was indebted to Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Quirk for the party they had given at their home for the club and for the amount of £11/2/6, by which the club benefited from the function. Two novel croquet afternoons also had been held during the year to entertain members. As was the custom, the speaker, as president, had been privileged to have a president's day, and this year, with the Bowling Club president (Mr. W. H. Coulson) had held a combined croquet and bowling evening in the Bowling Club's pavilion. The year had commenced with a credit balance of £45/7/8, from which outstanding accounts amounting to £8/3/7 had to be met. Receipts for the year totalled £181/16/7, and after paying all commitments, including £50 to the Dalby Town Council, £70/3/2 for wages, and other expenses, the club now had a credit balance of £65/7/-. From this credit balance approximately £20 would be required to meet the payments for the hoses, sprinklers, and hoops, which had come to hand since the end of the financial year. The club desired to thank Mr. H. E. Thorley, who had acted as honorary auditor. The club recorded its appreciation to all those who had assisted in any way during the year, and to the following who had presented trophies: Mrs. W. H. Coulson, Mr. F. G. Lamkin, Mr. V. Low, Mesdames E. J. Starling, V. Irvine, T. Jack, C. Savage, R. S. Gibson, L. Wilson, H. Smoothy, J. Welsh, E. S. Coutts, J. Shill, C. Thompson, M. Baxter. Mrs. W. J. Quirk presented a teapot and Mrs. Maxwell a championship board. Mrs. A. White presented a president's board. In a presidential note thanks and appreciation were extended to all officials and members who had assisted the president most loyally and made her duties a privilege for the year 1939-1940. Particular mention was made of the secretary (Mrs. C. D. C. Savage) and the treasurer (Mrs. T. Jack), also the captain (Mrs. V. Irvine) and vice-captain (Mrs. L. Wilson) for the excellent way they had carried out their duties. All officials had carried out their duties and attended meetings well and the club had benefited considerably from their efforts. Mrs. A. White was elected president for the ensuing year. Other officers were: Patroness, Mrs. T. Jack. Vice-presidents, Mesdames W. H. Coulson and L. Wilson. Committee, Mesdames E. S. Coutts, V. Irvine, E. J. Starling, J. Thompson, and H. N. Smoothy. Honorary secretary, Mrs. C. Savage. Honorary treasurer: Mrs. T. Jack.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 23 March 1940. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)