Southport marks nonagenarian birthdays and mourns a Life Member

With the lawns being given a makeover, no play was possible for a few weeks over the Christmas / New Year holday period. But at the Clubhouse there was a very important gathering of members who celebrated the 89th & 90th birthday birthdays of two long serving members. Obviously Kathleen was a popular name for girls 90 years ago because both have that as their name but shortened to Kate as in the case of Welsh born Kate New (89) and Kathy as in Kathy Oram who was born in New Zealand. We now have 7 members who are nonagenarians ( ie. 90 years or over) - all of whom are active within the club and playing on a regular basis.

(P.S. Their dresses are not identical)

The valuable particpation of these players can be demonstrated by the fact that the Beryl Phillips IntraClub Hi/Low Triples Competition w a s w o n b y t h e “ LT D L i m i t e d ” Te a m w h i c h included Trudy Cummins who is our oldest member! Lee Wentworth, Trudy and Dianne Sweet were undefeated in this closely contested competition. Beryl, also in her 90’s, donated this Trophy.

L-R Trudy Cummins, Lee Wentworth, Beryl Phillips and Dianne Sweet

Kathie Grant travelled to New Zealand to play in the Women’s World Association Croquet Championship. She met up with her many friends and acquaintances and experienced very good games on the fast courts. Also in New Zealand were Gabby and Frances Spencer who played in the New Zealand Golf Croquet Singles Championship. Both of them played in the Plate and experienced the standard of the game in N.Z.

L-R Heather Knight, Kathy Grant, Rosemary Newsham and Jacky Lynch

Our members have been busy with fund raising by hosting not one but two Bunnings BBQ’s. One was before Christmas and the second was in the New Year. The opportunity to raise money for the Club is much appreciated and all the funds are used for improvements to the Club and pay for work done to the surface of the courts. Barbara Northcott

VALE - Elaine Pearson

Sadly a long time member and Life Member, Elaine Pearson, died 16/1/2023 . She went into hospital a couple of weeks ago with complications from cancer and died peacefully. She was 91. Elaine had been a member of the club for many years joining in the 90s after coming to the Gold Coast from Dubbo where she was a practising Vet. As a club member she played Association and then when Ricochet was introduced became one of the club’s top Ricochet players. She was a referee in both Association Croquet and Ricochet. Until a couple of years ago refereed all club and competitive games. She was the Guru of the rules and the one to always ask if there was a query. She will be missed by all of us at the Club and her two adult sons. Many plants around our courts had been donated by her so that is another legacy.

By Barbara Northcott, Southport. From the Croquet Newsletter, January/February 2023, pages 30, 31.