THIS week's image is of Mrs Elizabeth Chifley presenting a prize to Mrs E.E. Murray, who was a regular croquet player at the time.
The idea of starting a croquet club in Bathurst came after a suggestion was made at a meeting of the Bathurst Tennis Club in May 1924. Any intending members were asked to communicate at once with the secretary, Mr W. Bailey, 127 Havannah Street. While there was some initial interest, it took several months to play some casual croquet matches.
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Driving a ball through the first hoop, the mayor, Alderman P. J. Moodie, officially declared the lawn and club room of the Bathurst Croquet Club open on Saturday afternoon, April 5, 1930. The opening took place in the presence of a large gathering which included members of the Parkes and Cowra croquet clubs.
Conspicuously situated in Bentinck Street and adjacent to the town tennis courts, the croquet club house was described as a trim and pretty structure facing a spacious playing lawn. The building and grounds were admirably adapted for the purposes of the game and completed the improvement scheme for the main entrance to Bathurst.
A rubbish tip had been converted into an ideal playing field through the energy and enthusiasm of the club members, backed by outside assistance, including the presentation of the timber for the club house by Messrs J. Reid Ltd. of Grafton, the managing director of which was Mr J. Plead, father of Mrs H.V. Cranston, a prominent member of the Bathurst Croquet Club.
Mrs H.V. Cranston, the club's secretary, who presided at the official opening in the absence of the president, Mrs John McPhillamy, explained that the laying out of the lawns and the club house cost £150. Money raised for the undertaking included donations from local citizens, while the Bathurst City Council had attended to the erection of the club house.
The club was also indebted for the initial advances of £10 each from Messrs L.J. Mockler, E.C. Murray, M. Meagher, W.J. McPhillamy, H. Owens, J. Miller and W. Boyd. Later, Messrs Mockler and Miller converted their contributions into a free gift. On behalf of the club, Mrs Cranston thanked the Bathurst Council, the Bathurst Tennis Club for the valuable assistance in connection with the lawn, Alderman Priddle for his help in the formation of the area, the late Mr D.F.W. Veness and the deputy town clerk (Mr F.J. Tonkin) and the ex-mayor (Alderman C.A. Hansard) for assistance in various ways.
The mayor, in performing the opening ceremony, congratulated the Bathurst Croquet Club on the fine achievement in establishing the club house and lawns, and intimated that the council was considering the question of further beautifying the locality, with its delightful surroundings. Mrs Golsby and Mrs Cranston, he added, were to be commended for their splendid work in the initial stages of the undertaking. Alderman Hansard also complimented the club on its successful efforts to establish a meeting place and playing field in the city and wished the club a prosperous career. Over the afternoon tea, provided by the ladies, a very enjoyable time was spent by all.
The first matches in the Western District Pennant matches were played on the Bathurst greens on Saturday, May 6, 1939, when a team of four players travelled from Orange on the steam train to meet the Bathurst team in three games. The pennant was given by the president and secretary of the NSW Association, which it was hoped would encourage a wider interest in croquet in the Western District.
The Bathurst Croquet Club is still operating today. Reports and match results appear in Bathurst newspapers. In April 1948, the results of the Bathurst games played were: Mrs Henderson versus Mrs Blomfield 26/10; Miss Tremain versus Mrs Seaman 26/18; Mrs Pockley versus Mrs Blomfield 26/12; Mrs Henderson versus Mrs Meek 26/15; Mrs Crapp versus Miss Tremain 26/9; and Mrs Hopper versus Mrs Gavin 13/12.