Nelson Bay Croquet Club

NELSON Bay Croquet Club is celebrating the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia to Life Member Margaret-Rose Thompson OAM in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.

Margaret-Rose was instrumental in establishing the Club in 1996 and was one of the 17 founding members. She was also one of the agitators who persuaded Port Stephens Council to provide a facility at Tomaree Sports Complex for the sole use of the Club in May 2008. She served as President of the Club in 2000/01. Her contribution to establishing the Club was recognised by the naming one of the Club’s then two lawns after her and her beloved late husband Tommy and her being made a Life Member of the Club in 2008.

She continues to play today and has coached, played and refereed all three forms of croquet: Association, Ricochet and Golf. Her coaching certification for all three forms was re-accredited in 2021 and she continues to be involved in conducting referee examinations for both Golf Croquet and Ricochet Croquet. She has refereed at international, national, state and club level, including the inaugural Women’s World Championships held at Cairnlea (Melbourne), the Australian Singles Championships and the Interstate Shield on many occasions, and the Croquet NSW State Singles and Doubles Championships as well as district and club events within the Hunter Region.

The game of Ricochet Croquet was devised in 1984 by an Australian, John Riches of Adelaide. For many years, Margaret-Rose was the main proponent of Ricochet Croquet in NSW, running coaching sessions and referee courses throughout the State. Despite her husband Tommy’s failing health, she continued this work until recently, travelling anywhere to give coaching sessions and referee examinations (always with Tommy in the passenger seat – she did all the driving) – she would never say no.

By David WILSON