Hervey Bay wins Regional Association Pennants, and hosts social visitors

The weather has certainly been a talking point this year and still is in many places. Its vagaries have caused interruptions to play, disastrous flooding, inconveniences and cancellation of events. One such cancellation brought disappointment to Hervey Bay Croquet Club members and the residents of the local OzCare Aged Care facility. The 2022 theme for Seniors’ Month celebrations for OzCare residents throughout the State was Alice in Wonderland. As you know, the game of croquet was featured in the book written by Lewis Carroll. Sadly, because of inclement weather the Croquet Club in Hervey Bay wasn’t able to re-live that game from literature for the residents.

Flooding rains brought a healthy crop of a rogue grass on to the croquet lawns. The photo above shows Club members hard at work digging out the badly affected patches in readiness for a re-turfing of those troublesome spots.

Hervey Bay city recently welcomed a new business entitled CaCh Tours and Events. The business seeks to provide events that are ‘picnic-based, loads of fun and usually themed’. Hervey Bay Croquet Club is delighted to have been chosen, on three occasions to date, to host social afternoons at the Club. Participants are given an introduction to the game of croquet, play a game and then enjoy a social get-together over refreshments or a BBQ.

Numbers in the Club may not show an increase from these visits, but Club members know that it is good publicity for the Club and for croquet in general. It is also a fund-raising activity. In the New Year CaCh is planning a pop-up picnic in the croquet grounds on the theme of Bridgerton.

Above: Club president Jenny Campbell demonstrating the basics of croquet to the visitors.

Club members have competed in CAQ and Regional competitions (as well as Club championships) with varying degrees of success but always with a high level of enjoyment. The photo below shows the proud winners of the shield for Regional Association pennants. Yes, they (Ken Clarke, Lynn Bray, Jenny Campbell, and Peter Spinks) were thrilled to win – it’s been many long years since the Hervey Bay club has won the shield!

The Hervey Bay Croquet Club traditionally holds a Melbourne cup lunch on the Monday prior to the running of the Cup the next day. As you will remember that Monday coincided with Halloween. Dee and Pam just had to acknowledge both significant occasions! I trust that all Clubs can look back on 2022 and say that, despite some little bumps along the way it has been a good year.

Warmest Christmas wishes from the Hervey Bay Croquet Club and every best wish for an even better year in 2023.

Coral Deeth

"Above: Club president Jenny Campbell demonstrating the basics of croquet to the visitors."

"The photo below shows the proud winners of the shield for Regional Association pennants. Yes, they (Ken Clarke, Lynn Bray, Jenny Campbell, and Peter Spinks) were thrilled to win – it's been many long years since the Hervey Bay club has won the shield!"

"Dee and Pam (photo left) just had to acknowledge both significant occasions!"

By Coral Deeth, Hervey Bay. From the Croquet Newsletter, December 2022, pages 13-15.