Each week as they prepare for their birthday celebrations the Daily Liberal will bring you profiles written by some of the longer term members. 

This week we meet Ben Vang. 

“A very good friend of mine, phoned one day and said, “I want to show you, something you’ll like. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning!”

“It’s Sunday tomorrow”, I said. “I know. See you at 8 o’clock”, he replied, “Wear flat shoes!”.

And that was that.

Those of you who remember Michael Martin, a local hairdresser, will know that when Michael decided to do something you might as well play along ... sooner, rather than later.

Sunday morning Michael turned up as forewarned.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“We are playing croquet.” was the reply.

I thought I had heard wrong.

What I knew about croquet was that it was a game for ‘oldies’, ‘decrepit oldies’, at that.

And despite years in Dubbo, I didn’t even know we had a croquet club in town.

I refrained from making rude comments! After all, Michael was a good friend, and, like myself, he was self employed with little time for frivolities, other than at the week-ends.

But croquet? Did he say really CROQUET???

A few minutes later we rolled up at the Croquet Club, situated behind the Bowling Club. Here we were met by a staunch, formidable lady, decked out in full white Croquet regalia, hat and all.

Her name was Dix Spotsworth and, I soon learned, she was a master croquet player, with several championships under her hat, but she was not a lady with time or patience for anyone who didn’t listened or did exactly as she taught.

Fortunately Michael knew just how to handle such ladies, otherwise I might not have survived these first few morning.

Yes, I became intrigued and returned with Michael more Sunday mornings. And then more and more, and it wasn’t long before I got the idea of the game.

I had to admit that ‘maybe there was more to croquet than I had first anticipated.

Darn you, Michael.

The sport has that fulfilled all my requirements: Challenge, exercise, the use of my brain (such as it is), and good company. Best of all, it does not require physical strength or ability to jump and run - which is just as well, having had one hip and half a shoulder replaced.

Over the last 10 years I became quite involved with the club, publishing the clubs first newsletter and serving a stint as secretary. Currently the members have to put up with me as their Games Captain, arranging tuition and competitions.

I owe it all to Michael, sadly no longer with us, and thank him for introducing me to croquet.

I value the friendship and my weekly games with the many old and new members of Dubbo City Croquet Club.

Come down and have a go. But be warned, it is addictive.”