Contributed by “South Stake”

South Stake has often wondered, what is the point of celebrating the annual anniversary of the initial, natal event?

If the answer is “cake”, then South Stake is all in favour, being more than just partial to such an edible comestible.

Dubbo Croquet Club clocked up its 104th birthday on Saturday, September 20, and South Stake, for one, is glad to have been along for the ride.

The morning started as usual for a Saturday – lots of pre-game natter, chat, wittering, and unspecified vocalisations without point or purpose. Ethnologists deem these activities as “bonding behaviour” among primates (along with grooming and de-lousing!) – which South Stake eschews.

All courts were full and the extra players who tested themselves on the “Mad Hatter’s” court laid out on the rough between the garden beds, with the hoops haphazardly set out by a tipsy dormouse. Fiendishly good fun, with no chance of a beheading!

Smoko is usually a cuppa and more yak but, on this occasion, we had nibbles and bikkies and slices and patty-cakes and other treats in abundance. South Stake began to warm to the birthday custom.

The games captain then announced the inauguration of two new awards to the club’s pantheon of prizes and recognitions. Each is eponymously named after Mavis Grant and Lillian Wallace.

The “Mavis” pin will be awarded, in future, to the player who runs two hoops on a single hit. This is a feat which Mavis Grant has made her distinguishing signature, and which has become an aspirational achievement.

The “Lillian” pin awardees will qualify by running two hoops on one hit twice in the one game. Lillian herself actually did this earlier in the year, and, moreover, on consecutive hoops: namely hoops one and two, and then three and four.

Mavis and Lillian have been keen and very skilful players for many years, and are highly regarded and deeply-respected members of the Dubbo Croquet Club.

Congratulations to both ladies for this somewhat whimsical acknowledgement of the esteem in which they are held.

Club president, Kate Colwell, presented Lillian with the original of the award pin, to the acclamation of the assembled membership.

Mavis Grant was unable to attend on the day, (kicking up her heels in Queensland, is South Stake’s best guess) and will be presented with her pin at the next suitable occasion.

For the second half of the morning, we had a demonstration of “Reversi”, as devised by our captain.

The demonstrators were Margaret Sheridan, Des Pope, Ben Vang, Ingrid Stufano, Ray Doyle, Graham Bender, Kate Colwell, Darron Wilson, and Tricia Shanks. Del Heywood and Beth Stanley were conscripted on the spot to make up the numbers.

Opposing pairs started in the centre of the court, and raced to play the hoops in reverse order, beginning with hoop five, and finishing by running from hoop one to hit the centre peg. Utterly contrary to the usual ordering of the universe, hitting an opponent’s ball carried a penalty.

A convivial lunch and post-dinner pursuits rounded out the day, and South Stake retired replete and soothed in body, mind, and soul.