Croquet club celebrates century

ONE-hundred years ago the inaugural meeting of the Ballarat Croquet Association took place in the Town Hall.

Initial clubs were Ballarat, City, Western, Victoria and Soldiers Hill. Later any clubs within 60 miles around Ballarat became members.

On 18 November the now Ballarat and District Croquet Association celebrated its centenary. City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Samantha McIntosh opened the luncheon.

The president of Croquet Victoria Jim Saunders, president of the B&DCA Dennis Thurgood and many past and present members attended.

A copy of the history of the B&DCA written by Gwen Hamilton highlighting the evolution of the game in the Ballarat district was presented to the presidents of the Alexandra, Western, Ararat, Beaufort and Lismore clubs

Three women of 90 plus years, Elsie Pike, Hilda Crowe (who still plays at 93 years of age) and Beatrice (Bea) Forster were presented with orchid corsages as recognition for their contributions to croquet.

Bea Forster was accompanied by her son Stephen who is the state association croquet team coach and currently ranked 16 in the world.

Other prominent players in the B&DCA, all with connections to Lismore, are the Fletcher brothers Robert and Malcolm with world rankings of one and five respectively.

All the speakers spoke of past highlights, present benefits of playing croquet and future plans for recognition and growth of croquet as a recognised sport throughout Victoria.