Toowoomba Croquet Club annual meeting and president's report

The 30th annual general meeting of the Toowoomba Croquet Club was held in the club house and presided over by the president (Mrs. Os. Booth). Other members present were Mesdames E. J. Rowe, C. Fortescue, D. F. Marshall, F. Hodgson, H. Goodrich, J. Esler, W. Hooper, J. Rogers, J. B. Kingsford, C. Blair, R. J. Hazard, F. Bridgman, D. Thorburn, A. V. Grahame, Misses B. Booth, C. Hooper and Mrs. M. Dines (hon. secretary).

The president's annual report was submitted as follows:—

Exercising the privilege that is given to a Chairwoman, I formally move the adoption of the treasurer's balance sheet.

It is only natural, perhaps, that any president should aim, at each annual meeting, in eclipsing the figures of the preceding year, and still maintaining efficiency. In times, such as we have been passing through, that seemed hardly possible, and so long as a club, or an individual, for that matter, is able to keep its head above water, it has accomplished much. The committee were anxious that this year an earnest endeavour would be made to make as few appeals to members, for additional funds, as possible. The figures that have just been presented to you disclose a credit bank balance of £26 odd, after starting the year with £41 in hand. When it is remembered that no functions have been held for the raising of funds for special purposes, but that the whole of the expenses has been met from revenue derived from members' subscriptions, it certainly seems to me that the club is on a perfectly sound basis.

True it is that the committee of last year had the foresight to purchase soil for top dressing, and thus save the club that expense this year. In like manner, they, too, made purchases in other directions that would have made inroads into club funds during the past year had they not done so. The result is reflected in the comparatively small expenditure for this year's operations. I would be delighted if members could be held immune from any extra expense in the years to come, but I am not optimistic enough to hope for that. We must, of necessity, go on renewing our plant, and keep things up to our standard as we are doing.

There are no other items in the balance sheet that call for special comment from me, but it now devolves upon me to give you a short resume of the club's activities for the year.

In spite of the fact that certain events, at the commencement, presaged a more or less turbulent time for me, I assure you that my year as president has been the happiest of my club life. I suppose when a new president is elected, to preside over any body or club, the views of such president are bound to dominate many discussions, and members generally temper their opinions to harmonise with those of the president without necessarily sinking their individuality. Perhaps the nine years that I served you as secretary were helpful to me in gauging the temperament of individual members, and so we have been able, with a little tolerance, to work together for the betterment of the club without undue friction.

My term as president was heralded in the unfurling, by the president of the Q.C.A., of the club's flag won in the Downs Pennant matches, and the necessary social function attendant upon such an occasion. The entertainment of our worthy visitors was in keeping with the best traditions of the club, and I believe those who honoured us with their presence carried away only the happiest of recollections of the unfurling of the first pennant in Toowoomba.

The pennant matches were, of course, revived during the year, and these, coupled with interclub and home and home matches, have made the year a particularly busy one. We have added fresh laurels to the club in pennant play, and a second flag becomes our coveted possession. Interclub matches were played with Gatton and Ipswich each on two occasions, the former being confined to the junior players. I have always been an advocate for these games, realising that they afford wonderful opportunities to improve our play, apart from the friendships that they create. Home and home matches were played with the junior teams this year, and, of course, the same remarks apply to them.

The annual Rotary Conference in April was responsible for a great influx of visitors to town, and many of those taking part were accompanied by their wives or lady relatives. Some of these, as is only natural, were croquet players, and it was a decided pleasure to entertain them during their all too short stay amongst us.

Farewells were given during the year to two of our members, who were in the happy position of being fortunate enough to take trips abroad. Mrs. Isaacs and Mrs. Boyce both made us envious when they said good-bye prior to leaving for a holiday in England and on the Continent. Mrs. Isaacs tendered her resignation as committeewoman and referee, and at a special meeting Mrs. Goodrich was elected to fill the vacancy on the committee. The position of referee was not filled. At her leaving, Mrs. Isaacs took the constitutional procedure of ensuring her nomination as committeewoman for the year we are entering upon, and her name is amongst those to be balloted for to-day.

I regret that the club's championship has not been competed for this year. One after another of the entrants, for various reasons, dropped out, and it shall be for you to say to-day whether we shall abandon the event for this year or not. The decision to abandon would not be without precedent, as the same thing was done in 1923.

It must have been gratifying to you all to know that Mrs. Bridgman won the president's trophy at the last interstate tournament, and whilst I was hopeful that she would bring home the gold medal, I suppose I must be thankful for small mercies. I congratulate her, nevertheless, and I shall look forward to her winning it this year. Mrs. Bridgman, as our Press correspondent, has faithfully served the club, and in thanking her I am sure you all associate yourselves with my thanks. In May last, the club was represented at the opening of the Pittsworth lawns by the president, secretary and captain, and I think I am correct when I say that every other club on the Downs sent envoys on that occasion to pay respect to our Pittsworth friends.

The unveiling of a photograph of the late Mrs. Alex Gaydon, one of our very active members, was the sad note struck this year. Reference to her passing has already been made by the late president.

During the year the rules of the club were thoroughly revised, and after being adopted were printed and distributed to members. It is a number of years since we were able to boast of having a printed book of rules, and although fairly costly, I am certain the possession of them will be of much benefit generally.

For the continued success of the club, we owe many debts of gratitude, and I do want to record my thanks to the donors of trophies for our competitions, to the Press for their help at all times, to Mr. Rowe, who audits the books without almost any notice, to those friends who have provided cars for the transport of members to pennant and inter-club matches, to Mr. Frank Owen who, when he had a right to be in bed after an accident, saw to the erection of our flag pole, and to those of our members who come forward, time after time, and offer their help in the entertainment of our visitors. They sacrifice much of their time, and we should hardly be able to do any entertaining at all, were it not for their much valued assistance. I know that they do not look for thanks, but I am anxious that they shall know how deeply appreciative I am of all they have done for the club during my term of office. I thank our Patroness (Mrs. J. D. Annand) not alone for her trophy for competition, but for the very fact that any function held in connection with the club is sufficient for her to grace it with her presence.

The captain has, throughout the year, accepted her full responsibility for the management of her department of the club's affairs, and I sometimes wonder what we should do if we had anyone else occupying that position, who was less courageous than she. Her help, her forethought, and her general administration, have been a power in themselves during the year, and I take this opportunity of saying how genuinely thankful I am, and I think all members will join with me when I say that I hardly know where we should look for a worthy successor. I cannot thank Mrs. Dines sufficiently for accepting the position of secretary of the club at a time when a strong personality was most needed. She assumed office after the resignation of Miss Hooper, who had occupied the position for four months. Mrs. Dines has done everything that could possibly be expected of her and many things that could hardly be expected of anyone occupying that honorary, though very onerous, position. I am deeply grateful for her generous assistance, and I realise what a wonderful asset to any club a secretary of her type must be.

It is perhaps regrettable that president's day was not held this year, but through wet weather immediately preceding the day appointed, and the prevalence of influenza, it had to be for a time postponed. I hope that it will be held early in the new year.

And now I congratulate the winners of the various competitive events throughout the year, and I wish our representatives in Brisbane their full measure of enjoyment during the tournament play, and finally I thank members for their loyalty to me during my presidency.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Rowe and carried.

Mrs. Fortescue presented the captain's report.

The election of officers resulted: Patroness, Mrs. J. D. Annand; president, Mrs. Os. Booth; vice-presidents, Mesdames E. J. Rowe and F. Hooper; captain, Mrs. C. Fortescue; treasurer, Mrs. F. Bridgman; committee, Mesdames D. F. Marshall, F. Hodgson and F. W. Isaacs.

Mrs. Booth moved that Mrs. M. Dines be again elected honorary secretary for the coming year. This was seconded by Mrs. Fortescue and carried.

Votes of thanks to Mr. E. J. Rowe for auditing the club's books and to Misses Hely and Marwedel, Press representatives, for their reports of the club's social doings during the year, were moved by Mrs. W. Hooper, seconded by Mrs. C. Fortescue and carried.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 23 August 1933. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)