West Toowoomba Croquet Club holds its 25th annual meeting

The election of office-bearers at the 25th annual meeting of the West Toowoomba Croquet Club resulted: President, Mrs. C. J. Searle, vice-president Mrs. M. Dean, honorary secretary, Mrs. E. A. McConachie, honorary treasurer Mrs. L. Webber, captain Mrs. J. Flegler, vice-captain Mrs. K. Sandberg, house stewardesses, Mesdames F. Bullock and de Fraine, Press correspondent, Mrs. K. Sandberg, selection committee Mesdames Flegler, Sandberg and McConachie.

The annual report stated that the affairs of the club have been progressive and co-operative. Interest had been sustained by entering into club competition, pennant play, the Darling Downs Tournament, the Queensland Croquet Association tournament in Brisbane, and the Darling Downs champion of champions, held at Toowoomba Croquet Lawns, and by the fact that in September inter-State matches were held in Brisbane, giving players an opportunity to witness selected test players from Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia in action.

Club membership increased during the year, the present membership being 26 playing members, two life members and three social members.

During the year the honorary treasurer (Mrs. O'Connell) had resigned and had gone with her family to live in Brisbane. She had been for years an active and valued member, having held office as honorary secretary, treasurer and president respectively. Mrs. Webber had been nominated as honorary treasurer for the remainder of the year.

Competitions held were.—Champion of the club: Mrs. Sandberg, runner-up, Mrs. Dean. Junior A Grade competition: Mrs. Bullock, runner-up, Mrs. Gilbert. B and C Grade competition: Unfinished. Single handicap: Mrs. Quinn, runner-up Mrs. Webber. Doubles handicap: Mesdames Flegler and Quinn, runners-up Mesdames Sandberg and Bullock. Consistency play on Saturdays: Mrs. Bullock, runner-up, Mrs. King.

The year closed with a credit bank balance of £98/3/.

The following donations were made from the club: To Legacy Club £5/10/, Darling Downs tournament £1/1/, West Toowoomba Bowling Club, £2/4/6. Donations to the club prize fund were received from Mesdames McConachie, Sandberg, Alroe and Miss Fryar.

Mrs. Miller, a life member, donated the equivalent of her membership fee (£1/1/) to the club prize fund, £1/1/ to charity calls, and £1/1/ to incidental expenses incurred at social functions. Other members donated prizes for social functions, provisions for tournament catering, etc. Mrs. A. B. Carter, a life member, gave a donation of £1/1/ and Mrs. Carter (Brisbane) £1 to the club.

Pennant play between Downs clubs created keen interest. West Toowoomba won the pennant presented by the Queensland Croquet Association. A pleasing function was held on our lawns on June 20, at which Mrs. Gibson, president of Q.C.A., made the presentation of the pennant to the club. Visitors from other Downs clubs were present.

In April the Darling Downs annual tournament was held in Toowoomba, games being played on Toowoomba, West Toowoomba and Laurel Bank lawns. Members of the club entered in these competitions and winners from our club were Mesdames E. A. McConachie and F. Bullock (handicap doubles). Mrs. M. Dean was runner-up in the Downs championship.

At the Q.C.A. annual tournament in Brisbane in September, several members competed. Mrs. Flegler won the consolation event.

At the Darling Downs champion of champions event held on the Toowoomba croquet lawns in November, the club champion (Mrs. Sandberg) was runner-up, losing to Mrs. Inhoff, of St. Andrew's Club (Allora).

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 10 February 1950. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)