Windsor hosts CAQ events management training, runs the first AC Brooch Competition, and marks one year since the flood

About 20 people attending a CAQ's events management training course at Windsor Croquet Clubhouse recently. Conducting the course was WCC member Willy Silk, standing.

Windsor Croquet Club hosted a CAQ's events management training course at its clubhouse recently. The course was part of CAQ's commitment to professional development for its members. About 20 people from all across the region attended.

President Mike Mabbutt said the club was proud of the fact that the trainer was its long-time and highly respected member Willy Silk who passed on the knowledge and skills she has gained from many years of managing croquet events.

"The reason for the training is so more club members can learn the skills to run an event so clubs don't have to rely on the same members," Willy said. "The training starts from producing an entry flyer to adding results on croquet scores and deciding wins." Willy said she will be running further training in coaching and other activities in the near future.

The event was also an opportunity for people from other clubs to see inside the Windsor Croquet Clubhouse. It has recently been repainted and refurbished after being inundated in the February 2022 floods. Mike said "It was very nice to note there were many compliments paid to the club on its historical wall, with one club asking if they may copy it and do something similar."

Windsor Croquet Club brooch organiser Greg Bury with President Mike Mabbutt.

Flags were flying high in the sky above Windsor Croquet Club on Friday 3 March for the first Windsor Association Croquet Club Brooch Competition. But at the start of the play, no one realised there would be a considerable amount of intriguing underground activity before the day was out.

Organiser Greg Bury and president Mike Mabbutt were on hand to ensure the smooth running of the all-day event. As play progressed, Greg would contribute much more unplanned for personal effort to ensure this came about. Then during the day, a search-and-rescue operation to retrieve a wayward red ball that took off during one of the games put a new perspective on the brooch competition.

WCC member Terry Ericson takes up the story he has entitled "Search and rescue for the red ball". "The red ball left court one, travelling under the fence, onto Blackmore Street then rolling back to go down the storm water drain. MacGyver Greg taped a broom stick and a curtain rod together, with the circular tape roll at the end.

Greg with the elusive red ball and the broom stick retrieval tool.

"On hands, and knees, below the level of the road, it was a tight squeeze to thread the retrieval tool into the drain. Lawn bowlers were amazed and neighbours were bewildered. A 20 minute struggle resulted in a successful rescue, the red ball was reunited with its friends on the trolly and Greg emerged as a Community Hero."

"Croquet is an extreme sport."

One Year On

Report of the Brisbane Flood Event February 2022 and the Windsor Croquet Club recovery 2023 from club president, Mike Mabbutt.

"Just over one year ago our little club was inundated by one of the worst flooding events in our history since the early 70s. Almost everything was destroyed internally and, but for a few electrical items salvaged from the clubhouse which had been placed high on shelves in readiness for the flooding, everything else was ruined.

Did we let that stop us? Of course not! Everyone swung into action and removed all of the ruined interior. Then we all helped to clean up, slowly. After that it was time to seek financial help. With the massive assistance of grants from all directions including RACQ, Commonwealth Bank, Brisbane City Council, QRIDA, Tim Nichols MP, Sports and Rec and the Community Gambling Fund, we submitted numerous grant applications and thanks to this assistance, here we are today, just over one year later with a fully renovated clubhouse.

A new kitchen and flooring has been installed, the interior has been completely repainted, the lawns have been renovated and all ruined chattels have been replaced, making our clubhouse shine like a diamond again!

Everyone visiting has remarked on how wonderful the clubhouse now looks and how great the lawns are to play on. There are too many people to single out for thanks but everyone knows who they are, that's the spirit of Windsor, to care for each other and have the interests of the club at heart.

We are all grateful that we belong to a club that provides camaraderie, competition and cakes when needed!

By Jeanette Morrison, Windsor. From the Croquet Newsletter, March/April 2023, pages 36-38.