Annual Report 1984-5

President’s Annual Report
1984-85.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the 57th Annual Report of the Hastings Croquet Club.

Due to ill health, Mrs. Una Jeffries resigned from Captain of the Club, which was received with regret. During her Captaincy, Una carried out her duties very capably. We thank you Una, and hope your health will continue to improve.

Miss Brenda Waring filled the vacancy of Captain, and Mrs. Moira Ewen accepted the vacancy of Vice-Captain until the re-election of Officers. Thank you Brenda and Moira for your co-operation.

We have had 16 new members elected to the club, with 6 resignations during the year. Mesdames Cooke, Terrill, Dawson, Lankovsky, Williams and Pattullo.

The coaching was carried out again by Mrs. Lena Lambert. Thank you Lena for your tremendous efforts, and to all other members who helped; for the time spent and the encouragement given to our junior players.

I would like to thank our Patroness and Life Member, Mrs. Lochian Ritchie for the Refresher Course she gave to members, and for the work and time she gives to the club.

Vandalism has again occurred. The club has been broken into on several occasions. Damage to two trophies, which were replaced, and broken windows and major cleaning up required on one occasion from dirt and tomato sauce thrown around. New locks and keys were made, and recently a new bolt for the door plus another padlock. We do have neighbourhood watch, however, members are entreated to ensure maximum security by checking windows and doors before finally padlocking the gates.

I would like to thank Jack Ewen, Ernie Williams, Tom Quayle and David and Mollie Hickey for the much appreciated efforts of lawn markings, maintenance and gardens. The Committee are very grateful to the members who helped on the working bees.

At our Veterens’ [Veterans’] Tournament there were a lot of remarks made by visiting players, on how well keep [kept] the grounds were.

The pavilion was kept in order by the members who took weekly turns of duty, and their services are hereby acknowledged.

My thanks to Mr. Tom Quayle for his help and support as Vice-President and for time spent on re-drafting the Constitution.

Thanks also to our Treasurer, Mrs. Jessie Hunter, for her expertise in keeping our accounts, we appreciate all you have done.

Previously our Vice-Captain and now our Captain Miss Brenda Waring, who is also our Delegate to the H.B. Croquet Association, we thank you for the excellent work you have done.

My special thanks to the Secretary, who is retiring from the Committee after fulfilling three years of office. Averil, you have brought special skills to the position, and you will be sadly missed.

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Also a big thank you to our tea convenors, Mrs. Moira Ewen and Mrs. Noeline Harrison for a job well done.

We also thank Mr. Gerald Kenning for auditing our books.

With our Fundraising the previous year, together with this year with a large grocery raffle with articles donated by the members, and a cake stall, we were able to have the pavilion painted, the roof repaired and painted, and a new porch erected to replace the old one. All amounting to $1650.

The club is fortunate in having members who rally round when work is to be done, and so long as this continues, we shall be able to enjoy our game on beautiful lawns. We have a valuable asset in our club, due to the foresight of our founding members, and we must strive to plan for the future by keeping our membership up to compete with rising costs.

I would like to thank the committee and members for the help and support they have given me in my two years of office. I have enjoyed being President and heading such a committee, and I know those who are appointed to the new Committee will do their very best, and those who are retiring from it will contribute to the club in other ways.

Jean Cross
President

11th May 1985.