The Range-Maleny prepares to host regional competitions and promote Association croquet

One member of the Club, Jason Dixon, was announced at the December AGM as being the most improved player. The presentation was delayed until the clean up day when he was present at the Club.

Jason Dixon (centre) receives his trophy for the most improved player with Margie Rudd (left) and Rae Canniffe (right)

Elaine Sirl (Welcome to our Newsletter as a correspondent. Ed.)

The Range-Maleny

With the new year comes a keen anticipation of the unfolding of our many plans for our small but active club. We are a club with a strong emphasis on Association croquet, however we have over the last year or two branched out to play Ricochet while still retaining our main emphasis on Association. This is giving our club members a range of options when seeking competition with other clubs, as well as on our twice weekly play days.

The year is getting well underway with Saturday morning coaching well attended as our players are looking to further their skills in 2023. We are fortunate that, although we are a smaller club, we have several experienced coaches who are very willing to share their expertise with club members, both at our formal coaching sessions and during one-on-one sessions.

The Range Maleny (Cont.)

In addition, our friendly club play afternoons on a Thursday and a Sunday are a time when informal coaching can occur while enjoying a relaxed game. The attached photo shows

coach and club president Sarah Widin (at left) coaching players on a Saturday morning

.

This year, the regional competition is fast approaching and we are looking forward to hosting four days of competition on our lawns. Ricochet divisions 1 and 2 singles and Ricochet division 3 singles are to be held in late February. In early March, the Association Open singles and Division 2 singles will be hosted by our club also. We are looking forward to giving players the opportunity to compete on our improved lawns, after dethatching and weed control work has been undertaken over the Christmas break. We are indebted to our lawn keeper, Wallace Roy, and his helper Ken Barker for this great effort. The attached photo (below) shows our

newly renovated lawn 2 which is now a joy to play on

.

Also fast approaching are the pennants competitions in which we take part. This year, we are elding teams in the Lochwood and Bray Association competitions as well as Ricochet pennants. As well as hosting our share of games, our club’s referees will be highly involved in the running of these events. Ken Barker and Sarah Widin, two of our top players, are preparing for the Lochwood pennants and regional competitions.

We are eagerly anticipating Maleny’s Australia Day event on January 26 when many sporting and recreational clubs will be having a “Mobile Come and Try Day” for the community. The showgrounds in which we are located is hosting the citizenship ceremony adjacent to our lawns. We will be open to demonstrate our great game and are anticipating that the many visitors to the showgrounds will have the chance to come in and “have a try”.

Another initiative this year involves plans to regularly join in with our closest neighbours at the Caloundra club for their Saturday afternoon Association play days. We look forward having the opportunity to further our playing experience and to promote Association croquet in this way as well as enjoy this opportunity for social connection.

Last year, we hosted our inaugural Association Croquet Skills Workshop which was well attended and appreciated. This year, we are hoping to again secure a grant to hold this event again. There is always so much to learn about this great game no matter how many years’ playing experience we have under our belts and picking up tips from other players in a variety if contexts is always very worthwhile also.

From our club to yours, we wish you a happy year of croquet in 2023.

Helen Uhlmann

My mum used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread butter on bread, all on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting E.coli.

And we all knew we had to accomplish something before we were allowed to be proud of ourselves.

By Helen Uhlmann, The Range-Maleny. From the Croquet Newsletter, January/February 2023, pages 37-39.