Photographs of two late captains unveiled

At the Toowoomba Croquet Club grounds yesterday a pretty and touching tribute was paid to the memory of two former captains of the club—Mrs. George Hooper and Mrs. Edwin Perkins, both of whom were life-long residents of Toowoomba and were not only devoted and greatly loved members of the club but had endeared themselves to a very wide circle of friends. The little ceremony (the unveiling of photographs) which was beautifully performed by Mrs. Oswald Booth (hon. secretary of the Club), took place after the tea interval and only members of the club were present. The pictures had been hung and were veiled, one in pale blue, and the other in royal blue (the club colours), and the pavilion was arranged with golden wattle from the club garden. After a few introductory remarks by the president (Mrs. E. J. Rowe), Mrs. Booth said: It is my undoubted privilege this afternoon much as I deplore the necessity for such a ceremony, to unveil photographs of two of the erstwhile captains of our club—the late Mrs. G. R. Hooper and the late Mrs. E. T. Perkins. I suppose it is as much in harmony with the eternal order of things for us to recognise merit as it is that we should perpetuate the memory of those with whom we have been associated in life; who have not only shared our pleasures and our adversities but have in a club like this borne the responsibilities of office. I say "borne" in the fullest sense of the word—captains chosen for their qualifications of leadership, who had the courage of their convictions and in spite of temporary setbacks saw to it that the ideals for which they stood should at last dominate the members. They have blazed the trail for future captains. Like pioneers of old, they have made the way easier for those who are privileged to follow them. Since we can no longer have them in the flesh it is perhaps fitting that we should have them as the camera saw them in life and as we knew them. We are told that in the realms of our deepest thoughts we get solace from the muses, the mystic and the poets. That being so, I get a meed of consolation this afternoon from those very beautiful lines which no doubt are known to you:

I never stand above the bier and see The seal of Death set on some well-loved face. But that I think, "One more to welcome me" When I have crossed the intervening space Between this land and that one over there— One more to make the strange beyond seem fair. And so to me—there is no sting in Death. And so the grave has lost its victory; It is but crossing with suspended breath And white set face, a little strip of sea. To find the loved ones on the other shore More beautiful, more wonderful, and more precious than before.

So that, when we too have crossed this space we may expect a welcome from our two captains whose memory we honour to-day.

Mrs. Booth then drew aside the veilings with these words: I unveil these photographs "In affectionate remembrance of Mrs. G. R. Hooper and Mrs. E. T. Perkins—Captains 1925-1928, and in recognition of their loyal services to the Club." If I were to add more it would be "Their duty done."

These present during the ceremony included also Miss Clarice Hooper, Mesdames Mervyn Dines, Frank Hooper, W. Hooper, C. Fortescue, F. W. Isaacs, F. Hodgson, F. Marshall, A. Gaydon, F. Bridgman, C. G. Blair, J. B. Kingsford, A. R. Ross, W. Hooper, G. Cossart, G. Fogarty, E. Hazard, A. V. Grahame, J. McKinney, and Miss B. Booth. An apology was received from Mrs. J. Douglas Annand (Patroness of the Club).

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 14 May 1931. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)