Toowoomba Croquet Club seeks new members

The old-established Toowoomba Croquet Club, believed to be the only body of its kind in Australia still using the ground on which it originally started to play, is making a bid to increase club membership and foster interest in the game generally.

The club's president (Mrs. E. A. McConachie), who has attended inter-State competitions in each of the capital cities, says that the club is aiming at a target of 50 members.

Mrs. McConachie and other members of the committee are prepared to coach new players at the club's own lawns, situated at the Athletic Oval in Arthur Street, from 10 a.m. every Wednesday.

"We who play the game know that it is full of interest—as much worthwhile as any other and more so than many of them," Mrs. McConachie says. "We must dispel that silly idea that croquet is merely a nice game for the bowlers' wives.

"I'm certain that if bowler's wives can persuade their husbands to have a 'go' at the game some time when nobody else is about, a perceptible number of them would find themselves interested and eager to take it on."

Mrs. McConachie mentioned that Walter Crowther, one of Toowoomba's leading tennis players before the war, had taken up the game and had won a Queensland championship.

"If we can get rid of the complex that croquet is a 'women only' affair, membership of the clubs will jump up."

At present there are two other clubs operating in Toowoomba—Laurel Bank and West Toowoomba.

Mrs. McConachie feels that the present time is opportune for the club to start a vigorous campaign to increase its membership and improve its lawns.

The existing layout, she says, does not make full use of the grounds, as there is considerable waste space. The present value of land, with the demand for suitable areas, must compel an alteration in existing arrangements.

"The opportunity appears at hand to re-design the lawns, club house and amenities generally, thus making this section of the Athletic Grounds a most imposing and attractive corner."

Secretary of the club is Mrs. Turner, of 1 Bright Street ('phone 748). She may be contacted by anyone wishing to join the club.

The Toowoomba Club last year celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation.

In 1903 games were played on a section of the cricket ground which now forms the top lawns. Regulation lawns were laid down about 1908.

The South Brisbane Club is said to be older than the Toowoomba Club by a year or two, but it originally had its lawns in a different locality.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 28 August 1954. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)