13th – 15th October 2017 may seem a long way away but the first planning meeting for the 2017 championships for was held at Bateau Bay this weekend. Representatives from the local EDSACC club including President, Ian McKinnon, met with NSW Gateball Chairs, Kerrie and Judy, and National Director of Gateball, John Park. John Compton, Gateball NSW’s contact person on the CNSW Board was an observer.

The meeting was squeezed in at lunch time during the Hunter Region’s fascinating Triathlon. Players from EDSACC, Maitland and Newcastle NP clubs play each other at Gateball, Ricochet and Golf Croquet. The club winning the most games is declared the winner. In 2016 Newcastle won the challenge.

Kerrie, Judy and John will be seeking volunteers in the wider gateball community so that the work for this event can be shared.

Please email NSWgateball@gmail.com and info@gateball.com.au with offers of help or specific suggestions for the event.

The latest version of the Gateball Q&A, published by the World Gateball Union has arrived. Let your State Director/Chair/Coordinator know if you would like a copy.

Priority will be given to accredited referees, those who have currently indicated they wish to do the referee examinations and to ensure that a copy of the book will be held at each club playing gateball.

Please remember that an electronic copy will appear at some time on the WGU website. Downloading to your phone, ebook reader or tablet is a great way to obtain a copy.

For those who have not seen this booklet before, it is published to try to make the rules a bit clearer. It is written in a Question and Answer format with references to the rule book as well.

Reading a copy of the book would certainly rate as an activity that could be listed on “Gateball Referee Reaccreditation”  cards.