Newsletter

The warning Tim has given us regarding his departure from Nowra now has a time attached.  Nicky accepted a job in Canberra and commences there in early May.  We wish her great success despite her taking Tim away especially when he is doing so well in the sport.

At the management committee meeting held on April 18th Tim officially resigned his position as President.  Previously it was decided John Deeves would be appointed President and will hold that office until the AGM when of course all positions become vacant. Margaret Sawers was appointed Captain, this being done under clause 11(b) of our constitution.  We are pleased to have Margaret rejoin the committee and thank them both for taking up the new challenges. Another grateful appointment was that of Campbell Holland to the grounds committee.

Following the site meeting at Kinghorne St. at which a clear majority of members agreed to have council go ahead with a DA, this is now underway with the Department of Land being asked for DA endorsement. We also will be seeking cost estimates for construction and applying for a Federal Grant.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday May 3rd at 10.00a.m. in the clubhouse.  We are still without a treasurer but Dorothy will continue to act as such until there is a new appointment.

The May meeting will be a reminder time for all, that our annual fees are due to be paid by June 30.

The next few days will see who is the Nowra Club Champion and we wish all participants well. 

We have received information re the South Coast Shield to be played at Narooma and Margaret will be seeking a team shortly.

Good croqueting all.
Dorothy Barker

Association Club Championship: Day 2

Tim Murphy 26 beat John Deeves 0.

Remaining games to be played over the weekend are:

Saturday

9:30am Tim v Margaret
9:30am Jean v John G

1:00pm Margaret v John G
1:00pm John D v Jean
       
Sunday

9:30am Tim v Jean
9:30am John D v John G

1:00pm Tim v John G 
1:00pm Margaret v Jean

Association Club Championship: Day 1

Today John Deeves and Margaret Sawers kicked off the annual Club Championship. Margaret played well during the game but in the end John came out as winner. After the bell the score was tied 16 all. Margaret had the first chance to score the "golden" hoop attempting a roquet on John 4 yards away. The roquet missed and then John only had to run a 18" inch hoop to win the game.

Final score 17-16 to John.

The competition continues Friday afternoon with John Deeves and Tim Murphy doing battle.

There are 8 games being played over the weekend. Good luck to all competitors.

Beginner Coaches

Congratulations to John Deeves who last Monday became an accredited beginner coach, John now joins Dorothy Barker and Margaret sawers who are also beginner coaches.

These people are trained to coach new players in the skill of playing croquet. Any one wishing to learn how to play this fascinating sport can contact either John 44224030 Dorothy 44434494 or Margaret 44215367 for further information about classes.

Good luck to Margaret who is travelling to Canberra to play in the Easter carnival also best of luck to all members who are playing in the Nowra club championships beginning on the 20^th of April.

Margaret Sawers

Seniors Day

Members of Nowra Croquet Club are delighted with the success of the senior’s week Come and try day held at the club on Sunday the 9^th of April.

Nine members welcomed the twelve visitors and showed them how to play golf croquet. Morning tea lunch and afternoon tea provided by members was enjoyed by all present.

During the lunch break President Tim Murphy gave a demonstration of association Croquet While Captain John Deeves explained what Tim was endeavouring to do.

Thank you to all members who contributed to the success of this most enjoyable day

New Courts & Preliminary Notice of Meeting

Monday, 13^th March 2006 the grounds committee meet with Mayor Greg Watson and John Wells (Director Community & Operations). At this meeting we expressed our need to have water and sewage operational at the new court site when the courts were ready for play. Council agreed this was important and would investigate costs. We also aired concerns the site was not the most economical in terms of construction. After some discussion and a site meeting a new location has been identified as a possibility.

The new location is bounded by Kinghorne St, Kalandar St and Nowra Cemetery.

There are two big advantages of this site:

1. The area is basically flat resulting in cheaper and quicker development.
2. We will be able to build the courts within 20 metres of the existing public toilet block.

The grounds committee have asked council to do preliminary work to ascertain if we can use the site and if it will be suitable for our needs. They said they would be back to us in a week.

The executive committee are now making a preliminary announcement of General Meeting to be held at 9am, Friday 7^th April 2006. The only agenda item at the meeting will be discussion and decision on where to build the new courts. We will make a formal announcement of the meeting, including as much location and cost information as possible of the two sites, as soon as possible and no later than 31^st March 2006.

This meeting is probably the most important meeting in the club’s recent history and we ask all members to make as much effort as possible to attend the meeting.

For those with Google Earth the location is: 34°53'15.15"S, 150°36'2.12"E or click here to view the site via your Internet browser.

Bundanoon Carnival and First Sextuple at Nowra?

Three members of the Nowra croquet club travelled to Bundanoon last week to compete in that club’s autumn carnival which began on Wednesday1st of March. Unfortunately Margaret Sawers had to withdraw on Friday due to car troubles but John Deeves and Graham Cullen both enjoyed the competition. Graham was the winner of the Egyptian Event (played on Wednesday and Thursday) undefeated. He also won his block in the handicap singles played from Thursday afternoon until Tuesday making two twelve hoop breaks in the course of the tournament. Congratulations Graham from all members of Nowra club.

Tim Murphy has done it again: last Monday in a practice session Tim completed his first Sextuple peel, This involved Peeling his partner ball through the last six hoops while taking his strikers ball through all twelve hoops in order and then pegging out both balls in one turn, Then just to prove that this was not a fluke Tim did the same in his next practice session on Tuesday.

Tim said that although he was happy to have achieved this milestone in his game it would be a while before he attempted a sextuple peel in a competition. Well done Tim would I be wrong to think that this is the first time such an accomplishment had ever occurred on the Nowra court.

In a game of golf croquet on Thursday Margaret Sawers played exceptionally well to defeat the club Champion Kevin Owen 7 to 2.

Best wishes go to Marjorie Clarke (life Member) on reaching her eightieth birthday on Monday the 13th of March. All at the club wish you a happy birthday Marj

Seniors week will be celebrated from First to the ninth of April. The Nowra Croquet Club will be holding a free come and try day on Sunday the ninth of April. Refreshments will be served and going on past experience the morning teas put on by club members is second to none.

Maragaret Sawers

Court Reopening

Saturday the 7th of January saw the reopening of the Nowra Croquet club’s lawn after the annual renovation.

The lawn usually out of play for six to eight weeks for renovation in past years was only closed for three weeks and is in the best condition (with the

exception of the end near the fig tree it has ever been. The grounds committee are to be congratulated on a job well done,

Seven members enjoyed their first game of golf croquet for 2006 on Saturday morning followed by four members playing association croquet in the afternoon.

Margaret Sawers played Oie Malcolm in a very enjoyable handicap singles and Tim Murphy played John Deeves.

Tim excelled yet again, making a triple peel in his game against John, then not satisfied with that Tim went on to play John in a second game for the day

and almost completed a second T.P, he peeled his balls through the final hoops but failed in his attempt to peg out

Margaret Sawers

Farewell to Claire

At a general meeting held in the club rooms of Nowra Croquet club on Wednesday the 18th of January 2006< President Tim Murphy announced that work on the new

lawns would probably commence in time for the next growing season. This is good news for members who have had a roller coaster ride of emotions, firstly

elation when they learned that the lawns were going ahead then disappointment when the development application was opposed elation again, when the project

was approved by council, disappointment again when the planned lawns had to be moved further up the show ground adding to the cost of the project, and

hopefully now finally approval to start work

It was decided at the meeting to hold a garage sale on the 25th of February at 6 Seaforth Street Bomaderry to raise much needed funds for the club.

A social Sunday is planned for Sunday the 12 th of February, these are fun days and visitors are always welcomed

After the meeting secretary Dorothy Barker invited all present to share a cake which she had bought to celebrate the 70th birthday of the club’s longest

standing member Ellen Bethe.

It was also time to say farewell to another popular member, Claire Wilson who was moving to Adelaide in a few days. Claire will be sadly missed by all at

the club as she has been a member of the team who have worked tirelessly towards achieving the new lawns. Claire has also been a major force in starting and

maintaining the school program with Dorothy and the support of other members. She served as captain for two years, secretary, chair person of the greens

committee for three years, during this time she was instrumental in the great improvement in the condition of the playing surface along with Tim Murphy

Kevin Owen and John Deeves. Claire’s coaching has been available to all members for the asking and has been invaluable as can be seen in the results

achieved in state and other competitions over the last few years.

Ellen has been a member for the past twenty-five years and has served in the position of secretary, publicity officer and croquet NSW delegate. Ellen and

her husband Jack are also staunch supporters of the club in many other ways.

Margaret Sawers played at Queanbeyan in that club’s first open tournament, winning only two out of four games.

Sara O’Sullivan from Queanbeyan playing in her first tournament won the block with four out of four wins. Sara is a young lady who has only been playing for

a short time and was thrilled to peg out in her last game of the tournament ( the first time she has ever pegged out in a game)Sara is a young lady who

shows a lot of promise and is a credit to all of her coaches.

Tim Murphy Played at Tempe in the three and under tournament for players on a handicap of three or less Tim as usual played extremely well winning four out

of six games

Margaret Sawers

Tim Murphy continues to improve

Tim Murphy continues to improve his croquet play.

Thus far this year, he has played two tournaments and has had some very good
wins.

At the Canberra Open in January, he won four and lost four in his block,
missing out on a place in the quarter finals by just one win.

His best win was against eventual winner Ian Bassett, ranked 17 in
Australia, who he beat 26 to 3.

He then moved into the plate event, provided for players who don't make the
finals, winning two games and losing one and missing out on the semi-finals
by just ten hoops.

In early February, he played in the NSW Three and Under tournament, for
people on a handicap of three or lower.

Tim won four games, lost two and was third in his block.

He gained another big scalp by beating young gun Chloe Aberley, then almost
gained another in American Mike Jenner, ranked 64 in the world.

Jenner won 24 to 23.

As a result of both competitions, Tim's ranking has improved to 8 in NSW and
209 in the world.

Tim said he is very happy with the way he is playing at the moment and is
looking forward to his next challenge, as captain of the NSW A Team in the
State Team Challenge.

Margaret Sawers