MYALL Park Croquet Club (MPCC) and its members have been able to add much-needed upgrades to their facilities, thanks to anonymous donors.
The funds have already been put to good work, allowing the building of an awning across both existing roller shutter doors and footpath, which will protect the clubhouse from rain and the hot summer sun.
These amenity upgrades were completed by local tradies over the past few weeks.
“The builder is a local and we’re very happy with the work Steve, from Steve’s Home Maintenance and Home Improvements of Hawks Nest, did on this and other jobs for the club,” MPCC publicity officer, Jackie Laycock told NOTA.
“Once the frame was in place, two club volunteers, president Andrew Sillar and Gary Bennett stained it to match the rest of the timber work before the roof was added.”
The benefactor’s hope was that the obvious need would be filled.
The awning will provide additional shade for the inside of the clubhouse on hot days and some protection from the rain, allowing both doors to be opened when the club’s amenities are in use, and air to flow through.
Steve built the framework, while a group led by Andrew Sillar stained it to match the existing structures, allowing Steve to come back to finish the waterproofing.
“I enjoyed sitting in the shade today having a cuppa after cutting the grass around the clubhouse grounds,” Sillar said.
“It will be of great benefit when the hot weather arrives.”
The club has also invested in some significant lawn maintenance this past week, with a company from Newcastle aerating and fertilising both lawns.
“The work on the courts was done by Richard Stephenson, of Aeraturf in Newcastle,” Jackie Laycock explained.
“Richard took over the business from well-known local Hawks Nest greenkeeper Richard Booth.
“The club has wanted to do all this work for a while, but has had more urgent priorities to deal with.”
The local croquet players may indeed be apprehensive about the reportedly hellish summer ahead, but the court’s recycled water system is currently in working order, and the cool changes are always welcome at the end of the day.
The local plovers, which routinely choose the croquet courts for their egg-laying, have managed to keep three of three chicks around despite hawks, butcher birds and dogs in the area.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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