Croquet afternoon farewells retiring president Mrs. Rowe

The president (Mrs. E. J. Rowe) and members of the Toowoomba Croquet Club gave a croquet afternoon at the club lawns in Lindsay-street yesterday. In spite of the chilly wind, which somewhat marred the enjoyment of outdoor sport, and the fact that several other functions were held in Toowoomba yesterday afternoon, there was a large attendance, which included members from West Toowoomba, and four or five interesting competitions were played. Mrs. Rowe, who was presented with a bouquet of daffodils, iris and lilac, by the club, received the guests in a gown of navy blue morocain, showing a pleated skirt finished with buttons, and her small blue hat was caught up with a diamante pin. Mrs. Oswald Booth (secretary of the club) wore a bois de rose coat, trimmed with grey fur, with her bracken brown panne costume, and she wore a Wedgewood hat featuring a floral panne brim, and finished with a soft bow of panne ribbon, falling at one side. Mrs. Booth was presented with a bouquet of sweet peas, by the president. Afternoon tea was served in the club house, at tables beautified with vases of Iceland poppies, and during the tea interval the president, who is to retire, was presented with a brass jardiniere and vase, by members. The competitions held during the afternoon resulted as follows:—Crazy croquet, Mrs. W. P. Oakeley; bell, Mrs. E. J. Rowe; bagatelle, Mrs. J. N. Johnson; gymkhana, Mrs. Alex. Gaydon. Guessing competitions were won by Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Arthur Collins. The results of the tournaments for the year, which were announced, were as follows:—Championship, Mrs. Gerard Boyce; singles, Mrs. T. Keys; doubles, Mesdames M. Corbett and Carrell; novice, Mrs. Carrell. Those present included, in addition to the president and secretary of the Toowoomba Croquet Club, Mesdames Hodgson, M. Corbett, D. F. Marshall, W. A. Bain, Carmody, W. Miller, J. N. Johnson, Bridgman, Warren, M'Leod, Gerard Boyce, M'Nally, T. Keys, A. R. Godsall, C. Fortescue, Frank Hooper, George Hooper, Isaacs, W. P. Oakeley, Alex. Gaydon, Harden, Alex. Horn, Edward Perkins, John M'Kinney, Ken. M'Kinney, Arthur Collins, Hale, Blair, C. J. Bott, F. C. M. Burne, Fitzpatrick, Misses Sylvia Beirne, Jean Carrell, Booth (2), Davis and many others.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 9 September 1926. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)