On our 2nd visit to Sunnyside Croquet Club to coach and demonstrate Gateball on the 12 July 2023, we were met by a very enthusiastic and welcoming group of players, who were as keen as mustard to get their hands on the first Loan Gateball Kit that I have available to lend to a club who have shown a keen and enthusiastic attitude toward accepting Gateball to their club.
Sunnyside Club and their members, 20 at our first visit, and 10 members, at our second visit, are just what I look for in a club to take on Gateball and expand our game. Along with Point Lookout who are also playing Gateball on a regular basis, Gateball is moving in the right direction in the Wide Bay Burnett Region in regional Queensland.
I have several other clubs to visit this year for Gateball demonstrations and hopefully, will have more Loan Gateball Kits to have on hand to allow these clubs to try Gateball without the initial expense of acquiring their own kits. I like the “try before you buy” way that we are spreading the Gateball message throughout Queensland. Gateball is different just by the nature of the game, so having more loan kits available, we can expand our sport to the wider croquet community without the initial cost of equipment being a factor. Having Croquet clubs equipped and playing Gateball which is an all-inclusive sport, will not only attract new and possibly younger members and their families but also give existing members at clubs more choice, with Gateball also being offered.
Robert Roose
Queensland Gateball Coordinator
