This contribution to the newsletter continues an approach where "snippets" have been taken from weekly reports for the sporting pages of Maleny's local paper.
In January the Range Club attended the 2026 Hinterland Australia Day Expo, where the club joined other sporting, community and creative groups at the Showgrounds to promote the sport and the club and our own recommended ingredient for the good life. In 2025 The Range was successful in attracting new players and we will do the same in 2026.
Tom Howat and the Sports Museum
In late January your correspondent took a trip to Melbourne and visited the Australian Sports Museum to see what it had to say about croquet. It proudly promotes that it displays over 90 sports. However, there is next to nothing about the noble sport of croquet — not a mallet, hoop, ball or peg to be seen!
The only reference to croquet was the name Tom Howat on the national sports "Wall of Fame". The Museum could offer little other information, so looking further it turns out Thomas Howat was the best Australian croquet player of his generation. Born in 1912 he won nine Australian Championships between 1955 and 1968, a total which remains unmatched.
It took him a while to get into croquet, being a middle-distance runner, and a competitive billiards, tennis, golf, chess and bowls player. At first, the bowls maintained his greatest interest. However, his wife, Isobel, was a member of Brunswick Croquet Club and, when waiting for Isobel after bowls, he became intrigued by the techniques, tactics and challenges of croquet.
Tom won the Queensland singles in 1966 and 1970, and the doubles in 1966 and 1972. He was a left hander with an Irish grip and a distinctive right foot forward, left foot back stance. He contributed as a player, authority, administrator and coach and rightfully has a place (albeit understated) at the National Sports Museum.
Q. Why did the computer go to the dentist? A. To get his Bluetooth checked.
Churchill's Croquet Lawn
In reading about historic Laurel Bank club, a connection was made with Kent, England and Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill's former home in Kent was "Chartwell", and yes, the home featured a croquet lawn. Churchill was a keen player, so much so that he wanted to be buried on his croquet lawn.
As a further aside (according to the International Churchill Society), when the great man was being driven between Chartwell and London the vehicle struck and killed a badger. Mr. Churchill insisted that the car stop so that he could get out and hold the poor creature in his arms. In an unusual tribute, he had the badger skinned, and the pelt thereafter displayed on his bedroom wall. He would tell people, "It was not the badger's fault."
Darling Downs and Regional Championships
In late February focus shifted to Toowoomba, and the Laurel Bank Croquet Club where the Darling Downs Regional Tournament was held. In the Division 2 Championships the Range Maleny was represented by Sarah Widin and Dianne Horsman as they competed for the Joy Gardner Trophy.
In March, building and maintaining breaks was one of the topics explored by the Sunshine Coast Regional Development Squad. Held over four sessions a small group of players from clubs including Caloundra, Bribie and Maleny were instructed by senior coach and representative player Mr Greg Whymark.
The "wet" set in through early March and it gave cause to remember that Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, with 70% of its area classified as arid or semi-arid. However, a "bit of rain" did not dampen the Range Croquet Club players as they commenced games in this year's Sunshine Coast regional championships.
There was also the Division Four AC championship competition with six players giving it a go. Bob Wilson from Maryborough took out the first place, with Penny Wilson second. Bob and Penny hail from the Point Lookout club in Maryborough, which was formed in 1898 making it the oldest in Queensland.
Also in March, in Ricochet the Range players competed well in Division 2 regional championships with Sarah Widin and Dianne Horsman taking out first and second places. Our Golf croquet players have commenced the pennants season with good results to Lynette Evans, Wallace Roy, Sarah and Dianne.
Stepping up to the interstate level, Sarah Widin is continuing intensive play and practice in the preparation for this year's AC nationals and the Eire Cup in Western Australia. But this workload doesn't prevent Sarah from putting into coaching club players and as club president running meetings as efficiently as a Cotter break!
In recent social play some were "fortunate" to witness Wallace Roy achieve a milestone, winning by a two-ball peg out, his first! On the other hand, his opponents David and Lynette barely got out of second gear and stalled more than once.
So, in the first quarter the year has gathered momentum, with some competitions and wins under our belts. In this regard mention must be made of the professionalism of tournament manager / umpire Wallace Roy and referee (and club captain and treasurer) Donna Manning. The lawns are looking great and playing well, thanks to Wallace and his assistants. Also, the Club has been developing its skill base and qualifications with Sarah and Wallace gaining (further) accreditation as coaches and umpires.
On a sombre note, the club recently lost valued and respected player, friend (and treasurer) Mr Stuart Craig. Stuart had a style on and off the courts that will be missed, to be sure. Vale Stuart.
We look forward to seeing you on and off the courts as players and visitors through 2026.