CROQUET AT CAVERSHAM

Evening Star, Issue 19743, 19 December 1927, Page 2

CROQUET AT CAVERSHAM

CUTS OFFICIAL OPEN DAY For the official opening of the Cavorpham Croquet Club on Saturday afternoon there was a very large attendance of members and friends, including representatives from Punga, Leith, and St. Clair Clubs. The president, Mrs T. K. Sxdey, extended a hearty welcome to all present, and thanked them for turning out in such goodly numbers, despite the unsuitable weather. She expressed appreciation of the good work done by the Ladies’ Committee, which had worked so hard in various ways to raise funds which enabled them to form the lawn free of debt. The work of laying down the lawn was done by Mr M. Stevenson, who had treated the club in a most* generous fashion. Mrs Sidey acknowledged with thanks the valuable service rendered to the club by gentlemen friends- —namely, Messrs MacpherBon, Lavender, Graham, Anderson, M*Lean, Harborow, and Dempster—who had put in an immense amount of worx in and about the lawfl, and in various other directions. Their services had been most valuable. The officials of the club —Mrs Briggs (secretary) and Mrs Thomson (treasurer)— bad also lent great assistance. , , . Mr D. S. Macpherson thanked the president for her appreciation of the work the men had done. It had been a great pleasure to them to forward the interests of the club, and they would in future be only too pleased to do all in their power to assist. Mr J. G, D. Dempster, representing the Bowling Club, extended greetings and good wishes to the Croquet Club for a long and prosperous career, ir the- Croquet Club proved as great a boon to th« ladies as the Bowling Club had .ia ih© mPfti then its existence would be

well justified. The advent of the Croquet Club would be a benefit to the district in many ways, not the. least from a social point of view. The president then called upon Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., to declare the lawn open. Mr Sidey expressed great pleasure at being present on an occasion which marked an epoch in the history of the Oaversham district. It was a happy idea on the part of the Caversham Ratepayers’ Association, of which Mr Macpherson was chairman, to initiate the idea of a Croquet Club, which had been taken up most enthusiastically by the ladies. Bowlers, footballers, tennis players, and harriers had all been catered for, _ and it was felt that it was time something was done for the ladies of the district. The club was fortunate in being able to lease from the Railway Department a piece of land centrally situated, sufficient to lay down two greens as at present, with enough for another two greens when necessary. A very_ fine pavilion had been erected practically free of debt. Mr Sidey then played the first ball and formally declared the club open. Afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies, after which, although the green was hardly in a suitable condition, an exhibition of play was given by several of the visiting ladies. Generous donations have beeiumade to the club, the president having presented a full set of material for two greens, Mr D. S. Macpherson a solid silver cup. to be competed for annually, and the Punga Club a mallet. In the evening an impromptu social ivas* held in the pavilion, cards sind dancing being indulged in, to the enjoyment of all present.