Favoured once again by glorious end of July weather, Port Macquarie Croquet Club’s thirteenth annual tournament opened yesterday in grand style. Visitors from Victoria and Queensland join the fifty-odd competitors from New South Wales who will compete for the next ten days.

The Croquet Club has stuck to its end of July date since Port Macquarie’s first carnival of the Pines in 1955, and has had a glorious sunny day each year like yesterday for its opening.

Despite their duration, sometimes a fortnight – this one is expected to run for twelve days – each tournament has been fully concluded. Mrs de la Rue said yesterday she and her fellow members were looking forward to the usual happy time with the croquet players for the next week or so.

Serious play began as soon as the opening festivities ended. One hundred and fifty games, most of them taking up to three hours, have to be played before the tournament concludes.

Major event is the A grade level, and serious contenders in this event include Mrs Freckleton, Mrs Wilson, Miss Morgan, Mrs Bolltero, and Mrs de la Rue.

State gold medallist Mrs de la Rue is out of form through lack of practice, and also has problems on her hands to ensure the smooth running of the carnival. Her handicap is minus one half.

Key Club in Apex

The district governor, Mr Rex Solomon, considers Port Macquarie a key club in a district held in high regard by the Apex Association. He stated this at the club’s 13th annual change-over function, held at the golf club on Saturday night.

He said the club had attained this status through the leadership of retiring president, Mr Rob Curnow, and by the support he received from his members. Mr Solomon then presented the president’s badge to Mr Merv Green installing him as president for 1968/69.

The dinner was attended by some 135 members and guests, who included Apexians from Wauchope and Camden Haven and representatives from other service clubs. The district governor presented spoons to 13 members who attained 100 per cent dinner attendance for the year.

They were Messrs. Keith Adams, Mery Green, Terry Hall, George Hay, John Hodge, Dick Kelly, Arthur Monck, Hugh Scott, Brien Tierney, Ian Turnham, John Vidler, John Thomas and Brien Morrison.

Two new members were inducted into the club by the district governor. They were Mr Roger Johnson, an electrician with the Oxley County Council and local plumber, Mr Bernie Quain.

At the conclusion of formalities, dancing and fellowship were enjoyed with Mr Wal Yabsley’s band supplying the music.

Colonial Dress Parade

More than thirty Colonial dresses will be modelled at a parade to be held at the RSL Club on August 8. Details of how each frock was made and its approximate cost will be revealed to help the many people who are in the throes of planning their October week frocks. The men, too, may learn something from the Apexian section of the parade, for these hefty mannequins are as usual, full of bright ideas.