West Toowoomba unfurls the 1940 Darling Downs pennant

The members of the West Toowoomba Croquet Club and their friends gathered on the sunlit lawns of the club yesterday for the unfurling of the 1940 Darling Downs croquet pennant, which was won by the West Toowoomba Croquet Club. The president of the Queensland Croquet Association (Mrs. J. Gibson), who unfurled the pennant, extended congratulations to the West Toowoomba Croquet Club members on behalf of the Queensland Croquet Association. The players must feel pleased that they were able to bring honour to their club and that they had justified their selection in the team chosen by the captain. She realised that many sacrifices had to be made to enable players to take part in pennant matches, but a good game of croquet was worth the sacrifices and work they entailed. It was a fine achievement to win the 1940 pennant, and the players responsible were deserving of high praise. Mrs. Gibson said she was delighted to have the opportunity of visiting Toowoomba. She had been honoured in being asked to unfurl the pennant. After the ceremony tea was served in the pavilion, where flowers in rainbow colourings made a charming adornment. The tables were spaced with posy jars holding pink sweetpeas and golden nasturtiums. A feature of the main table was an iced cake, centred with a miniature Union Jack. This cake was presented by the president of the club (Mrs. W. Miller). Bouquets were handed to the Mayoress (Mrs. J. D. Annand), Mesdames J. Gibson, W. Miller, V. Stuart (secretary of the club), and to two Brisbane visitors, Mesdames T. A. Bell and W. R. Pitter. Mrs. Stuart, who has been secretary of the Darling Downs Croquet Association for the past 12 months, was presented with a crystal scent bottle from Mrs. Miller in appreciation of her work for the association. The guests included members from the Toowoomba, Laurel Bank, Warwick, Dalby, Pittsworth, Allora and St. Andrew's Croquet Club.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 23 July 1940. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)