Headland-Buderim reflects on the Nationals and Patron's Shield

2024 GC Nationals: Whew! All done and dusted for our part as one of the hosting clubs. All club volunteers around the Sunshine Coast can be truly proud of their efforts which gained high praise for their club and themselves. Thanks to each and every one of you. Well done also Ross Rillie, 4th in Gold/Silver Medal event, beating current World's Women's Champion, Jamie Gumbrell along the way and performing so well in the Interstate Series being the only player to take a game off WA's Gary Phipps to split the match.

Other club members playing the Singles for the first time at this level were Russell Robinson, Col Beckett and Doug Houston. Well done. John Tusler and Ross Rillie also refereed.

Nationals Photography: The Maroochy Men's Shed photographic group, did a wonderful job roaming the main events and supplying great random pics which Murray Tinker put together for a very professional PowerPoint production for the final event of the Nationals, the team's dinner at the Headland Golf Club. We hope this group will take up the offer of a free session as a thank you from our club. A special mention to Pop Petersen (Nambour Croquet club) who added spectacular floral arrangements around the room and on each table. All from her garden.

Nationals Raffles: Thanks to donors for the club raffle. It was huge success. SC Mayor, Rosana Natoli, drew the tickets at the Welcome to State Teams and presentation of the Medals for the Women's and Men's Singles Championship held at the Caloundra Bridge Club. The three drawers went to Queenslanders. Well, that saved interstate players having to fit it into their luggage! 1st prize D. Houston 2nd A. Somer Vine and 3rd to T. McCallum. Thank you to all who supported this raffle. Headland- Buderim must have had lady luck with them when the club also won the Peter Cole mallet.

Patron's Shield: A thank you to Cheryl Moodie (Ricochet Capt.) who organised the Two Shot Golf Croquet tournament and reported it was another successful day. Although a smallish field it was played in spirited camaraderie. Congratulations to Shirley Eames & Viv Lloyd who won all their games and received medals. Judith Matthews, Club Patron Gordon Matthews's wife presented the Shield and medals on Gordon's behalf, besides cooking and preparing wonderful food fare for the day. Gordon introduced the Patron's Shield Day as a way to bring all three codes played at the club, together for a fun day. Thank you to both Judith & Gordon for their continued support over the many years they have been loyal members of the club.

Mural: Next time you visit our club hopefully you will be impressed with the mural which now adorns the eastern exterior wall of club house. (Photo above). We believe it makes a big statement for Croquet. The artist, Mieke van den Berg.

Visitors: Most of our annual interstate and NZ visitors have gone for the year now. It is so good to have their company and see the numbers increasing each year as word spreads of our hospitality. GC Club Championships: Preparations are underway for these events in Oct/Nov. Melbourne Cup: Preparations also underway for the Cup, one of our many social events at the club.

Helen Rillie

Photo:-Patron's Shield winners - S.Eames & V. Lloyd with J.Matthews

Photo above

By Helen Rillie, Headland-Buderim. From the Croquet Newsletter, September/October 2024, pages 18-20.