Noosa courts busy through winter with interclub competitions and a constitutional update

The first cold days of winter are with us. Players on Noosa courts these days are wearing jackets and shorts are less frequently seen, though this is Queensland! But the five courts at the Noosa Club are all in use, on some days many double-booked. This is a good sign for the Club and some new recent members have joined the playing group with enthusiasm and are getting involved very quickly. We look forward to other members now in training joining the Club over the next month and it is always good to keep the playing group reinvigorated! A recent interest from members of the local bridge club is notable. A similar attitude to the strategic elements, or a similar ruthless approach to winning.

The Management Committee met on Thursday 1st May. The main items are summarised below.

- The Club has received a Water Rebate of $1,298 from Noosa Council. Our Grants Officer is hopeful that Noosa Council will assist with the cost of the 2023 court renovations. - A suggested change to SCRCC Conditions of Play for Pennant, Shield and Plate competitions to allow players from their primary Club which does not enter a team in any competition, to be allowed to play for another Club.

There has been a request from a member to re-designate the toilets for Men and Women. The member has been asked to provide reasons. The Committee has agreed to ask members to vote on this issue - a voting slip will be drawn up - Change/No Change.

Interclub competitions have continued. The most recent have seen the Pennant, Shield and Plate teams all play a further round of matches. On 17th April the Plate team played Bribie Island at the Noosa Courts and were defeated 6 games to 4. This was a creditable effort from the Noosa Team most of whom were inexperienced. Dennis Coulter won both his singles games and joined Cam Black and James Martin who won one singles each and teamed for a good win in the doubles. Richard, Cam and Lois had one win each. On 15th May the Plate team went down to Headland/Buderim at Headland 7 games to 3. Lois, Cam and Richard all had one singles win. This wasn't helped by the fact that two Headland players were on a handicap of 15, their doubles team getting six extra shots. Handicappers?

The Shield team took the long drive to Bribie Island on 24th April, where they lost 7 games to 3. James Martin and Julie Terry had a good day, winning both their singles and teaming for a doubles win. The Shield team then travelled to nearest neighbour Coolum on the 8th May. The experienced Noosa team won the day seven games to three, with Richard Bawden and Julie Terry winning all three of their games. The Shield team must be up in the rankings?

The Pennant team also welcomed Bribie Island to Noosa on the 1st of May with much better results. They had a good win 8 games to 2. Galina Makarova and Charlie Osvald won two singles games. Galina then joined with Aniko Osvald for a doubles win and Charlie teamed with John Olsen from Noosa for a second doubles win. The Pennant game against Nambour on 15th May was cancelled due to rain.

The ongoing Saturday Singles competition continues about every third week, where players from a number of clubs play to see who can get their index down the most over a set period. Difficult to see any winners yet, as people play at different times, but it has created a lot of interest.

The Club recently held a General Meeting to approve a change to its Constitution and a resultant change to the Bylaws, relating to an updated set of Grievance Procedures. One of those things we have to do but hope that we will never need. We are a happy Club at the moment - let's keep it that way.

By Colin Hindson, Noosa. From the Croquet Newsletter, May/June 2023, pages 22, 23.