In the late 1800’s sport was very much a man’s world. Society women were just beginning to get involved in passive and gentile sports like croquet, lawn bowls, tennis and golf which were seen to be beneficial to one’s health and allowed one to still keep ones femininity. In the early 1900’s sport amongst women was becoming very popular. Women became more active in leisure sports and outdoor recreation which emphasized femininely codes of conduct and boasted the added charm of social outings. These events gave women a chance to socialize outside of their homes, make friends and enjoy a cup of tea.
On the 7th May, 1902, the Ipswich Croquet Club was initiated at its first meeting. Both men and women were invited to play and by the end of the day there were 50 members signed up. The Mayor of Ipswich granted the use of ground in Queens Park and the first games were played on July 26th. All committee positions had been given to women and a roster establishing the weekly provision of afternoon tea on the ‘at home’ club days was a priority. Function planning was a task taken seriously as were visits from other croquet clubs. Ladies of the club would meet and greet said visitors and entertain them with afternoons being a mix of games and socializing with tea and light refreshments. Hostessing duties played as much an important role in the sport of croquet as competition did. Funds for the club and charities were raised through bridge games, teas and lawn dances. The women folk were very impressive with their ways to raise funds for new lawns and such.
Ipswich Bowls Club members and wives Saturday function, Ipswich, 1937-38 taken from Picture Ipswich
In 1910 the Ipswich Bowls Club was established for men only. A bowling green was set up at Queens Park by 1912 as well as a simple wooden shed; the first Clubhouse. By 1917 the club had established another 2 greens and a handsome new Clubhouse officially opened on the 3rd July, 1915. On 22nd January, 1920, the ‘Ladies’or wives of the members of the Bowls Club were invited to have a game of Bowls and enjoy a pleasant afternoon. In 1921 ‘lady friends’ again were invited to play mixed matches on three afternoons during the year. There was such a response from the ladies that a competition of eight rinks consisting solely of ladies was able to be played. So popular was the sport that in 1922 electric lights were installed on the green for night matches. On the 8th September, 1939 at a special meeting attended by 12 ladies a motion was carried that a Ladies Club be formed in conjunction with the Bowling Club. Wednesdays were set aside for Ladies Club Day and it was decided that they would have their own meetings separate from the men. Finally in November, 1939 ladies who were not wives of the Men’s Club were able to become members of the Ipswich Ladies Bowls Club. Employing a ‘Tea Lady’ was the Clubs first order of business.
Members of the St Thomas’s Tennis Club of North Ipswich, 1920 taken from Picture Ipswich
Tennis or Lawn tennis as it was originally called, came to Ipswich soon after the first Wimbledon Tournament in 1877 and could be played by both men and women. At first it was played on private home courts owned by the well-to-do as a way to socialize. Clubs began forming as early as the 1880’s and by 1896 ant bed courts had been set up at Queens Park for players interested in social tennis. Women wore long skirts to the ankle and long sleeved blouses with large hats to play. One of the first clubs formed was the City Club or Town Club who set up its home court at Queens Park. To become a member one either had to be invited or apply and then be either accepted or declined. The Ipswich Lawn Tennis Association was formed in 1906 with six gentlemen’s and six ladies teams affiliated with the association.
Catherine (Kit) OBrien playing golf, maybe Ipswich, early 1940s taken from Picture Ipswich
In 1897 the Ipswich Golf Club was formed with men as full members and ladies as honorary members. Limestone Park adjacent to Queens Park became home to a rather rough 9-hole course. Horses and other animals grazed in the park and the grass greens were often being eaten. Wire fences were set up to prevent the new couch from being consumed. In September, 1898, at a match held between Ipswich and Chelmer Golf Clubs, the subject of a ladies club was discussed amongst the honorary members and the large crowd of ladies that had arrived to watch the match. The menfolk attending reminded the crowd that the admission of ladies to the club had already been agreed upon in the Ipswich Golf Club rules. Finally, in 1905 ladies were admitted as associate members. The new club house was built in 1910 in Queens Park.
Today Ipswich is well known for women in sport with several local players representing Queensland and Australia at national and international sporting events.
Information taken from: Ipswich in the 20th Century by Robyn Buchanan, Ipswich Bowls Club: chronicle of a century 1910 – 2010 by G Smith, B Johnston, J Nissen, Tennis …for the love of the game….Celebrating 100 years in Ipswich 1906-2006 by S Beer-Baynes, Ipswich Croquet Club – Celebrates 100 years ….1902-2002, Australian Government – Tennis retrieved 17-11-13 http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/tennis, Golf, The Queensland Times 13-09-1898.