Toowoomba Croquet Club > About the Club

Club History

Toowoomba Croquet Club Foundation

Extract from Notes
By Mrs. M. Boyce

In August 1903 a meeting was called of people who might be interested in the game of croquet. There was a revival of the game in England at the time. It became very fashionable, and the interest had spread to Australia. This local meeting was held in the large upstairs ballroom of the Café Alexandra. There was considerable enthusiasm, and about fifty-six joined as members.

The first President appointed was Mrs. Byram, whose husband was the manager of the then Royal Bank. Their secretary was Mrs. Robert Sinclair and Mrs. M. Boyce was the first Treasurer. The subscription was fifteen shillings per annum, with an entrance of one shilling paid at the gate of the Athletic Grounds. (Perhaps some may remember these gates). This fee included tea. We had no made lawns, but by permission of the cricket club, played on part of their ground – now our top lawns – which was very lumpy and bumpy, and also had a distinct slope.

Mallets were of local make, just oblong pieces of hardwood, with handles of ordinary wood. One was an old broom handle. Hoops were very wide, and the game was blue, red, black, yellow; the alternate game had not in at that time.

The Club room was a very small room under a very small grandstand, adjoining the dressing-room of the footballers, near where the new entrance gates are, and was neither airy or fragrant.

Afternoon tea was laid out on a trestle table under those camphor trees which have recently been cut down. Teas became quite a function, some members bringing their maids to wait. This did not meet with the approval of the majority of our members, and it was decided to have plain teas. One member went to the other extreme and brought buns spread on newspaper.

The first appointed Patroness was Lady Nelson, who held the position until her death. After this Mrs. Brodribb was our Patroness for a short time. The next one for a year or two was Lady Groom.

Mallets by now had begun to be quite common to all of us, and the very best could be had for about two pounds ($4.00).

In or about 1907 or 1908 it was decided to have real lawns, and the association granted us the use of the land now held by the Club. It was not, however, surveyed until some years afterwards when a small extra amount of land was given us in order to square up the Ground; and another piece was added to the west side to make those lawns regulation size. The cost of forming these new lawns, and the fence dividing them from the cricket grounds was borne by Mrs. R. Sinclaire, Mrs. F. Paterson and Mrs. G. Boyce. A new clubhouse and tearoom was also mooted and built at this period on the site of the present building. It was very small and later a pergola was added which was covered with flowering creepers. Teas were served here.

Croquet was now booming all over Australia, and visitors came from the south, and competition became the order of the day. Brisbane had several clubs.

War came and membership declined, and it was found impossible to keep the three lawns, so the top two lawns were unused for some time and No. 3 lawn was the only one for players. It was the best at that time. Mrs. M. Boyce was President again, and got permission from the office where she worked to have Wednesday afternoons off in order to attend. We were reduced to nine members and it was difficult to keep going. This was about 1917-1918, and was her third term as President.

After the war was over, efforts were made to get new members. Mrs. Ernest Rowe and Mrs. O. Booth were hosts in themselves, and they prevailed upon quite a considerable number of their friends to join. Great efforts were made to raise money to add to and enlarge the clubhouse. As far as can be recalled, Mrs. Boyce was again made President in 1922–23 she went to England in 1924. This was the occasion of our having a lease drawn up. As we had spent a considerable amount of money we wished to be secure.

The Toowoomba Croquet Club is, it is understood, the only club that has played on and is still using the original ground on which it started playing originally. The South Brisbane Club is older by a year or two, but it originally had its lawns in a different locality.

Prepared by
Mrs. M. Welford, 1978

The last 25 years

Prepared by
Mrs. D. Wright, 2003.

The 1980’s were booming years for the Toowoomba Croquet Club with crowded lawns each playing day and members joining constantly. By 1994 the situation had reversed. Many older members had died or became too infirm to play, and others had moved away to be closer to family in their “twilight years”. In fact, by 2000, there was some doubt that the Club would be able to continue.

It had been decided, by a small majority, to disaffiliate from the Croquet Association of Queensland as from January 1997. The main reason for this decision was that none of the current members wished to play competition croquet in tournaments.

Late in 2000 the Club was approved to provide coaching classes for students of U3A in Toowoomba on a weekly basis. All members were enthusiastic to try this and all took part in the coaching. In 2001 twelve students attended and of these seven became members of the Club. The following year four students began the classes, but decided that croquet was not the sport for them, and did not continue. In the current year, there are eight students.

Early in 2002 members of the Club were approached by several trustees of the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust which has control of the area on which the Club has its lawns and clubhouse. The Trust wished to extend one of the grandstands at the Athletic Oval and this would mean the loss of one of our lawns. Despite protests to Members of Parliament, City councillors, and after many months of uncertainty, the renovations to the grandstand commenced in October 2002, extending onto our lawn and also one of the adjoining tennis courts.

There was good news in 2002 however. The Club obtained a government grant to upgrade its remaining lawns and the clubhouse. A sprinkler system was installed to irrigate the three remaining lawns and these were top-dressed. The renovations to the clubhouse included a ramp to provide better access for those with a disability, a disabled toilet and a renovated kitchen.

Late in 2002 it was decided to again become affiliated with the Croquet Association of Queensland.

Timeline

1932 – Toowoomba Croquet Club won first pennant in D.D. competition.

1934 – British Gold Medal won by Mrs. Bridgman.

Some members in the past represented the State in interstate games, also British Gold Medal games.

Records tell us that the first 25 years of the Club were spent establishing it. Of course, the First World War intervened.

During the second 25 years the first real clubhouse was built and lawns relocated. In 1929 the clubhouse was erected.

During the third 25 year period – in 1955 the clubhouse was moved to its present site, adding to the generally improved surrounds.

During the last 25 years the Club’s fortunes have fluctuated but at present the future looks bright, with new enthusiastic members.

Past Office Bearers

1903-04

Patroness: Lady Nelson
President: Mrs. Byram
Secretary: Mrs. R. Sinclair
Treasurer: Mrs. G. Boyce

1928-29 (25 years)

President: Mrs. E.J. Boyce
Secretary: Mrs. O. Booth
Treasurer: Mrs. O. Booth
Captain: Mrs. Perkins
Vice-Presidents: Mesdames Hooper and Petford

1953-54 (50years)

President: Mrs. Carlisle
Secretary: Mrs. N. H. Turner
Treasurer: Mrs. Binney
Vice-Presidents: Mesdames Padget and Fogarty
Captain: Mrs. R. McAuliffe
Vice-Captain: Mrs. Fox

1978-79 (75years)

Patroness: Mrs. W. Cooke
President: Mrs. A.J. Welford
Vice-Presidents: Mesdames J. Leahy and J. Graham
Secretary: Mrs. G. Morgan
Treasurer: Mrs. J.D. Lemon
Captain: Mrs. M. Wardlaw
Vice-Captain: Mrs. B. Sprott
Selection Committee: Mesdames M. Wardlaw, B. Sprott and L. Gander
Providor: Mrs. N. Volker

2003 (100 years)

Patron: Mr. Clive Berghofer
President: Mrs. J. Brady
Secretary: Mrs. D. Wright
Treasurer: Dr. A. Jones
Vice-President: Mrs. J. Jones
Captain: Mr. N. Collyer
Providor: Mrs. J. Collyer

2008

President: Mrs. J. Sweeney
Secretary: Mrs. K. Gillot
Treasurer: Dr. A. Jones

2009

President:Mr. L. James
Secretary: Mrs. K. Gillot
Treasurer: Dr. A. Jones
Captain: Ms. S. Reynolds

Presidents

President	Years Active
Mrs. Byrarn	1903–04
Mrs. G. Boyce	1908–09, 1917–19, 1923, 1938–40,
Mrs. Perkins	–
Mrs. F. Webb	1923–24
Mrs. F. lsaacs	1924–25
Mrs. F. Hooper	1926–27
Mrs. E. J. Rowe	1925–26, 1928, 1930–32
Mrs. Booth	1932–35
Mrs. Hodgson	1935–37
Mrs. Boyce	1937–39
Mrs. B. Marshall	1940–42
Mrs. Fogarty	1942–44, 1954
Mrs. W. Cooke	1944–46
Mrs. Cossart	1946–49
Mrs. R. H. Carlisle	1950–54
Mrs. E. A. McConachie	1954–75
Mrs. A. J. Welford	1976–78
Mrs. J. Leahy	1979–80
Mrs. L. Gander	1980–83, 1988–89
Mrs. M. Butler	1983–85, 1987
Mrs. M. Hofmann	1985–86
Mrs. J. Smith	1987–88
Mr. J. W. Hughes	1990–92, 1994
Mr.E. H. Delaney	1993–94
Mr. E. J. Smythe	1995–99
Mrs. D. Wright	2000–01
Mrs. J. Brady	2002–04
Mrs. J. Jones	2005
Mr. N. Collyer	2006–07
Mrs. J. Sweeney	2008
Mr. L. James	2009–