Toowoomba Croquet Club annual meeting, 48th year

At the forty-eighth annual meeting of the Toowoomba Croquet Club, the president (Mrs. R. H. Carlisle) occupied the chair. There was a satisfactory attendance of members. Reports from the Executive officers were received and adopted. Many matters affecting the welfare of the club were discussed, and arrangements were made for their implementation.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs. R. H. Carlisle; vice-presidents, Mesdames J. A. C. Wilson and E. Padget; secretary, Mrs. N. Fox; treasurer, Mrs. B. Binney; captain, Mrs. E. A. McConachie; assistant captain, Mrs. R. McAuliffe; green superintendents, Mesdames G. Fogarty and R. McAuliffe; committee, Mesdames G. Cossart, G. Fogarty and T. McCulloch; selection committee, president, captain, secretary and assistant captain.

The president's report stated: "We started the year rather badly owing to many wet playing days and the influenza epidemic. However, towards the middle of September attendances improved. Mrs. Boyce, who presented the 'Boyce Shield' to the club, was thanked for her donation. We lost Mrs. Mackay, a keen, active member, owing to her husband's transfer. Our parting gift to her was a set of salad spoons and servers. The club house was painted outside, new linoleum was purchased for the kitchen, and two sets of balls were bought. The financial position of the club is still sound. Twelve monthly and two special meetings were held. At the last special meeting it was decided that the fourth lawn be kept in the hands of the club. Several donations were handed to Mrs. McAuliffe towards the expense of clearing the lawn. Much further effort and co-operation of members will be required before the lawn is in working order. The Allora clubs were invited to play during Carnival of Flowers week, but owing to lack of transport only one club was able played in the Downs champion of the year is Mrs. Binney, who played in the Downs campion of champions event at Allora and reached second place. Monthly Inter-club play was introduced this year. Here, again, the weather interfered. For the first time the pennant this year goes to Allora.

"The Darling Downs croquet tournament was played on the various lawns of Toowoomba. Play started on April 26. The weather was glorious and helped considerably to finalise the many events quickly. Our successful competitors were Mrs. Fox and Mrs. McConachie (handicap doubles). Each club did its own catering—lunches, morning and afternoon teas. Mrs. McAuliffe was a capable and efficient convener. The Boyce Shield, with the addition of one guinea yearly, is now awaiting acceptance at the next Darling Downs Croquet Association meeting as one of the prizes from the Toowoomba Club for the championship of the Downs. A condition is that the winner of the trophy must see that the shield is returned to this club a month before the next Darling Downs Croquet Tournament. Four members visited the Dalby Croquet Club and thoroughly enjoyed the games. I invited them to visit us during Carnival of Flowers Week. The social afternoons' bridge and croquet were enjoyable, and thanks are tendered to the hostesses. Donations in kind and money were received from Mesdames Binney, Boyce, Carlisle, Cooke, Cossart, Fogarty, Fox, Grahame, Johnson, McCulloch and McAuliffe. The winners of the various competitions were.—Round Robin championship: Mrs. Binney; Mrs. Fox runner-up. Round Robin doubles handicap: Winners, Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Padget; runners-up, Mrs. Binney and Mrs. Grahame. Singles handicap: Winner, Mrs. Binney; runner-up, Mrs. Auliffe. President's trophy: Winner, Mrs. Cooke, runner-up, Mrs. McAuliffe. Round Robin Handicap: Winner, Mrs. Binney; runner-up, Mrs. Padget. Handicap doubles: Winners, Mesdames Fox and Wilson; runners-up, Mesdames Binney and Weymouth. Six members were admitted during the year. The wet weather and shortage of labour were a serious problem to the greenkeeper. Thanks are extended to the men who helped with the many jobs, and to Mr. E. S. Brown, who offered to have our lawns sprayed. No report would be complete without speaking of the work of Mr. Malcolm Brodie, who for years past has been our unofficial marker. He never failed us. I wish his work to be placed on record and officially recorded in the minutes of this club. I wish to thank all members who assisted me during my term of office."

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 17 July 1951. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)