Susanna Freymark
On a mossy green lawn next to the Richmond River, the clunking sound of wooden mallets striking colourful balls carries across the croquet court.
The sun is out, and Casino Croquet Club was hosting a Come and Try Day today, Sunday, May 17.
A group of new people are trying croquet for the first time, laughing, and striking balls through metal hoops.
The Casino club is almost 100 years old.
The rules for croquet were formally devised in England in the 1860s. There are records of the game being played in the late Middle Ages.
Club member Glenda Hitchcock said when she retired from work she continued playing temmis and still does, but Glenda was looking for something more relaxed and was drawn to croquet.
Club president Kathleen Griffin said playing croquet was “good for you personally.”
Club captain Mary Ashford said they did the Come and Try Day once a year to encourage new members.
“It’s a skilful games, it’s all about strategy,” she said.
The club plays comps with clubs from Alstonville, Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina.
Anyone interested in giving croquet a go, gets four free games before having to join the club.
Club members play every Monday and Wednesday at 9am at the Lennox Street club.
If you’re driving over Irving Bridge, you can see the players on the lawn in the red and white uniforms playing a game that’s been played for centuries.