In 2020 The Wimmera Croquet Association marks 90 years since it was first formed in 1930.

The first meeting of the Wimmera Croquet Association was held at Dimboola on April 30, 1930, and play commenced in October the same year with seven clubs; Horsham, Natimuk, Warracknabeal, Nhill, Dimboola, Murtoa, and Minyip.

By 1938 the number had increased to 14 clubs before World War Two led to the competition going into recess.

The Wimmera Croquet Association re-convened in 1946, and since them the member clubs have slowly decreased with only four clubs remaining today with around 100 members.

Pictured above - Janet Donnelly, Charles Rees, and Judy Baker.

Two different styles of croquet are now played, with originally Association Croquet played by all clubs, and since 1996 Golf Croquet has also been played.

Challenge matches between Wimmera and Ballarat started in 2006 with both Golf and Association Croquet playing each year.

Pennant competition is played with teams from each club, along with Singles and Doubles Championships.

Regional Golf singles Championships are played at Cairnlea in Melbourne and Regional Association Country Championships are hosted by different regional Associations each year.

Other social functions are also played within the Association.

Wimmera Croquet Association is affiliated with the Victorian Croquet Association (Cairnlea Melbourne) where Val Brown from Horsham was president between 2007 and 2010.

Success had been enjoyed regularly with local members winning Wimmera Sport’s Star of the year and medals for Country Week and Regionals achievements.

Ken Bald, Anna Miller, Fay Pearson, Neville Pope, and Ian Rees have all represented the Wimmera, in either or both Victorian state team in Australia, and Australia in the World Croquet Association team overseas.

Unfortunately, local clubs and members are slowly decreasing, with many people throughout the Wimmera not realising there is a croquet competition or believe that it is only played by the aged.

Croquet is a very strategic, non-contact, challenging, and rewarding game with minimal cost involved, and is becoming very popular with juniors, especially overseas.

Locally, the Dimboola Croquet Club recommenced as a club in 2013 after a long hiatus. Through the collaboration of Val Brown and Hindmarsh Shire Councillors Debra Nelson and Tony Schneider, the old lawn tennis courts were updated to become two ‘A’ size croquet courts.

Currently the club has 23 members and croquet is enjoyed on Tuesday mornings. There are opportunities to visit other clubs for tournaments and carnivals.