From the President

Welcome to 2008 and an exciting year for croquet and all mallet sports.

This year we could well find that we have more golf croquet players than association players. In a very short time this very social part of our sport has developed a large following and drawn many new players to our clubs. Many players I have spoken to find that playing golf croquet has improved both their roquet ability and their hoop running. Clearly it has become a welcomed addition to our sport.

In September last year the Newcastle/Hunter region of NSW hosted the first Interstate Shield and Singles Golf Croquet Championships which were a great success. Congratulations must not only go to the Victorian victors who won the First Interstate Shield and Kevin Beard who won the inaugural singles event but many thanks and congratulations to the Newcastle/Hunter region clubs who conducted such a successful carnival.

Also much appreciation and thanks to Maree Skinner who kindly donated the Interstate Golf Croquet Shield. Maree Skinner for those who do not know is our highly efficient Executive Director of ACA.

Now we can all look forward to the 2008 event in September on the Sunshine Coast and some further great news on this part of our sport is that Australia has nominated to host the Woman’s World Golf Croquet Championships for late 2009 or early 2010.

The next ACA Annual General Meeting will be held in Brisbane on the 4th April 2008.

The Croquet Australia Magazine is an important part of communication for our wide spread members. The magazine provides the opportunity for members to be informed and members to have their say.

I welcome our new Magazine Editor Carolyn Ribone to the position and wish her well. Many thank also to Vice President Max Murray for having carried the editor’s baton last year.  Well done Max.

John Fransen, President, ACA